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STATE  LIBRARY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA 


3 0144  00132459  9 


DATE  DUE 


1 \ 

m? 

1 (r\l2 — 

DEMCO  NO  . 38  - 298 


04-36-548-2 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniaangl00unse_53 


Pennsylvania 

ANG 


January  1988/$  1.50 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 

'TV  4S32,17/u) 

^'•S?-hol  I 


, W 


Straight 

Talk 


Wetlands:  Important 
Natural  Resources 

In  recent  years  we  have  witnessed  a great 
public  awakening  to  the  need  for  correct- 
ing the  serious  conditions  and  events 
threatening  the  health  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay. 

The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  has 
been  deeply  involved  for  many  years  in 
efforts  to  restore  anadromous  and  diad- 
romous  fish  movements  through  the  Ches- 
apeake Bay  into  the  Susquehanna  River 
system.  The  citizens  of  Maryland  have 
supported  Pennsylvania  in  this  effort,  be- 
cause they  realized  and  envisioned  long- 
term effects  of  declining  water  quality  in 
the  Bay. 

Pennsylvanians,  likewise,  have  learned 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


the  importance  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and 
its  ecosystem  to  upland  Commonwealth 
streams  and  now  realize  the  contribution 
that  Pennsylvania  lands  and  the  Susque- 
hanna River  drainage  area  make  to  the 
overall  health  and  well-being  of  the  Ches- 
apeake Bay.  The  Bay  is  oui  nation’s  larg- 
est estuary,  and  the  Susquehanna  River 
provides  the  Bay  with  one-half  of  its  fresh 
water.  An  important  part  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River  and  Chesapeake  Bay  system 
is  the  wetlands  within  a five-state  drainage 
area. 

Wetlands  take  many  forms.  Coastal  wet- 
lands consist  mainly  of  tidal  marshes  and 
mud  flats  that  are  periodically  flooded  by 
salt  or  brackish  water.  Inland  wetlands  are 
freshwater  marshes,  swamps,  and  bogs. 
More  than  1.2  million  acres  of  wetlands 
are  found  within  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
drainage  area.  Over  75  percent  of  these 
wetlands  are  inland  wetlands.  Only  about 
20  percent  are  coastal  wetlands.  Many  of 
these  inland  wetlands  are  within  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Wetlands  are  important  because  they 
serve  to  improve  water  quality  by  remov- 
ing and  retaining  nutrients,  processing 
chemical  and  organic  wastes,  and  reducing 
sediment  loads.  They  also  act  as  sponges 
to  absorb  flood  waters  that  overflow  riv- 
erbanks  or  flow  over  land,  thereby  provid- 
ing flood  protection  to  urban  communities 
and  downstream  areas.  Many  types  offish 
and  wildlife  require  wetlands  as  their  pri- 
mary home  or  habitat. 

A majority  of  rare  and  endangered  plants 
in  many  states  also  depend  on  wetlands. 
The  value  of  coastal  wetlands  as  habitats 
for  estuarine  and  marine  fishes  and  shell- 
fish, waterfowl,  birds  and  mammals  is  im- 
measurable. The  Chesapeake  Bay  is  the 
major  spawning  and  nursery  ground  for 
striped  bass  on  the  East  Coast.  Blue  crabs 
and  prized  shellfish  are  also  dependent  on 
these  habitats.  Wetlands  are  very  produc- 
tive natural  ecosystems  and  are  often  re- 
garded as  the  farmlands  of  the  aquatic  en- 
vironment because  they  produce  great 
volumes  of  plant  materials. 

Because  of  their  unique  location  be- 
tween lowlands  and  highlands,  wetlands 
and  their  vegetation  are  in  a good  position 
to  protect  the  land  from  erosion.  Wetlands 
also  offer  a variety  of  recreational  activi- 
ties, including  waterfowl  hunting,  fishing, 
and  crabbing,  as  well  as  many  non-con- 
sumptive pursuits  such  as  hiking,  nature 
observation,  photography,  swimming  and 
boating. 

There  are  some  human-induced  and  nat- 
ural forces  that  are  causing  a loss  and  af- 
fecting the  quality  of  the  remaining  wet- 
lands. Clearing  and  draining  of  wetlands 
for  agricultural  production,  and  the  con 
struction  of  ponds  and  lakes  for  water  sup- 
ply, flood  protection,  recreation  and  other 
purposes  are  major  threats  to  habitat.  Fill- 


ing wetlands  for  urban  development, 
dredging  or  channelization  for  navigation 
and  flood  protection  also  adversely  affect 
wetlands. 

The  pollution  of  wetlands  by  pesticides, 
herbicides,  other  chemicals,  sediment,  do- 
mestic sewage  and  agricultural  waste  has 
severely  degraded  the  quality  of  many  wet- 
lands. Natural  changes  are  also  occurring 
in  many  of  these  areas  due  to  droughts, 
hurricanes  and  other  major  storms,  animal 
actions  such  as  beaver  impoundments, 
erosion  and  accretion,  and  subsidence  of 
coastal  areas  related  to  rising  sea  levels. 

In  spite  of  nationwide  efforts  to  protect 
wetlands,  they  are  still  being  destroyed  at 
a rate  of  more  than  300.000  acres  per  year 
throughout  the  United  States.  This  attri- 
bution continues  despite  the  fact  that  man 
has  now  eliminated  all  but  93  million  acres 
of  the  more  than  200  million  acres  of  wet- 
lands present  when  this  nation  was  founded. 
Between  1956  and  1979,  Pennsylvania  ex- 
perienced a net  loss  of  nearly  28,000  acres 
of  inland  vegetated  wetlands,  or  a 5 per- 
cent loss. 

Pennsylvania  has  statewide  wetland  reg- 
ulations to  protect  inland  wetlands,  and 
has  been  able  to  slow  the  rate  of  attrition. 
However,  despite  the  best  efforts  of  ex- 
isting regulations,  wetland  losses  continue 
as  our  population  increases  and  the  de- 
mand for  facilities  increases.  In  addition  to 
these  losses,  many  acres  of  wetlands  have 
been  degraded  through  pollution,  urban 
encroachment,  partial  drainage  and  other 
influences. 

It  is  apparent  that  human-induced  and 
natural  forces  will  continue  to  erode  our 
wetlands,  and  a consistent  public  policy  to 
protect  wetlands  of  significant  value  is 
needed.  Where  conflict  cannot  be  avoided, 
satisfactory  mitigation  should  be  required. 
Acquisition  of  wetlands  in  selected  areas 
for  preservation  purposes  must  be  consid- 
ered. Government  subsidies  that  encour- 
age wetland  drainage  and  destruction  have 
to  be  reevaluated  and  changed.  The  cre- 
ation of  new  marshes  and  restoration  or 
enhancement  of  existing  wetlands  is  needed 
as  private  or  government  sponsored  water 
resource  projects  are  implemented.  In- 
creased public  awareness  of  wetland  val- 
ues by  improved  educational  efforts  is  es- 
sential. Encouraging  progress  is  being  made 
with  the  use  of  existing  or  newly  created 
wetlands  for  treatment  of  mine  drainage 
waters,  and  this  new  technology  needs  to 
be  fully  explored. 

Our  nation’s  quality  of  life  is  largely  de- 
pendent on  the  natural  resources  of  this 
country,  and  wetlands  are  a vital  link  be- 
tween our  land  and  water  resources.  Pres- 
ervation and  enhancement  of  remaining 
wetlands  and  creation  of  new  wetland  areas 
is  essential.  A firm  commitment  and  na- 
tionwide policy  is  required  to  guide  and 
ensure  their  survival. 


January  19HS  Vol.  57  No.  I 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Mark  Faulkner 
Boalsburg 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Leroy  Guccini 
Chairman 
Greentown 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Photographer — Russ  Gettig 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN003 1-434X)  is  published  monthly 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17109.  ' 1988.  Subscription  rates:  one 
year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1 .50  each.  Second  class  post- 
age is  paid  at  Harrisburg.  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send  ad- 
dress changes  to:  Angler  Circulation.  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg.  PA  17105-1673. 
For  subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  ad- 
dress. Please  allow  six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all 
other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor.  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edi- 
torial contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be  accom- 
panied by  a self-addressed,  stamped  envelope.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  re- 
sponsibility for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his 
possession  or  in  transit.  The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and 
advice  expressed  in  this  magazine  do  not  necessarily  re- 
flect the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State’s  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Limericks  from  Angler  Readers 

If  everything  goes  as  it  should,  these  poems  w ill  seem  better  than  just 
good.  For  your  reading  pleasure  we  offer  a treasure  of  all  the  limericks  we 


could  4 

King  of  the  Keystone  Catfish  by  Jill  Miller 

A lucky  angler  caught  a 42-pound  channel  catfish  last  August  6 

Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  Annual  Report  7 

Why  be  ALLARMed?  by  Dr.  Candle  C.  Wilderman 


The  Alliance  for  Acid  Rain  Monitoring  is  a group  of  volunteers  who 
regularly  measure  many  waterways’  alkalinity.  They  are  the  frontline 


troops  in  the  battle  against  an  insidious  enemy:  acid  precipitation  25 

Kids  Page  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Take  a look  at  a career  in  conservation  as  a fish  culturist  28 


The  covers 

This  issue’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Russ  Gettig.  shows  a Commission 
stocking  of  Canoe  Lake,  in  Canoe  Creek  State  Park,  Blair  County.  Last  fall. 
Canoe  Lake  received  some  4, (XX)  rainbow  trout  as  part  of  the  Commission’s 
winter  trout  stocking  program.  For  more  details  on  all  Commission  programs, 
check  out  the  Annual  Report  in  this  issue.  A new  group,  the  Alliance  for 
Acid  Rain  Monitoring  (ALLARM),  is  hard  at  work  in  Pennsylvania.  This 
group's  story  appears  on  page  25.  For  a remarkable  big-fish  story,  see  page 
6,  and  for  some  fun,  look  at  page  4. 

This  issue's  back  cover,  photographed  by  Harry  W.  Murray,  shows  a se- 
lection of  cress  bugs  and  freshwater  shrimp  for  winter  tly  fishing  action. 


Limericks  from 


You  may  recall  in  Pennsylvania  Angler 
the  solicitation  in  ‘ ‘Currents’  ’ for  send- 
ing in  limericks  on  fishing  anil  boating 
topics.  We  were  swamped  with  material 
and  after  careful,  difficult,  and  enjoy- 
able culling,  here's  a sampling  of  sub- 
missions for  your  reading  pleasure. 

Trout 

There  once  was  a boy  from  PA 
Who  liked  to  fish  every  day. 

If  he  caught  a trout 
When  the  season  was  out. 

He  released  it  right  away. 

— Robert  Schier,  Scotia,  NY 

B ass 

For  bass  I like  to  jig. 

But  I don't  use  jig  'n  pig. 

Whatever  the  weather, 

With  marabou  feather 
The  bass  I catch  are  big. 

— Robert  Schier,  Scotia,  NY 

Walleye 

I always  like  to  try 
To  catch  a big  walleye. 

They  give  a good  fight. 

Especially  at  night. 

And  they’re  always  good  to  fry. 

— Robert  Schier,  Scotia,  NY 


D reams 

From  under  the  currents  emerging. 
Deep  in  the  pools  trout  are  lurking. 
Sun  dappled  streams 
Alive  in  my  dreams, 

Fd  rather  be  fishing  than  working! 
— Thaddeus  Basara,  Secane,  PA 

Words  on  Walton 

Walton  penned  words  piscatorial, 
Ideas  he  made  immemorial. 

Long  live  his  advice 
That  with  minimal  price. 

Could  bring  us  delights  gustatorial. 
— Thaddeus  Basara,  Secane,  PA 


A lesson 

There’s  one  thing  all  fishermen  learn 
That  purists  may  hate  to  confirm. 

Despite  all  their  matches 

Of  all  kinds  of  hatches 

You  can  do  just  as  well  with  a worm. 

— Tom  Bost,  Greenville,  PA 

The  strategist 

I planned  my  strategy  ’till  late  that  night 
To  land  them  when  they  put  up  a fight. 

1 took  my  son,  Chris, 

Who  caught  all  the  fish. 

And  I didn’t  get  a single  bite. 

— Bob  Kindle,  Erie,  PA 

One  that  got  away 

As  he  set  the  hook  “I  have  one!”  he 
cried. 

And  fifty  other  fishermen  tried 
To  cast  to  the  spot 
That  they  knew  was  so  hot 
His  fish  got  away  and  he  sighed. 

— Phil  Anderson,  Harrisburg,  PA 

On  licenses 

A license  to  fish  is  a “must,” 

And  always  will  be,  1 trust, 
but  instead  of  paper  so  thin. 

I’d  like  a brass  pin. 

No  wrinkles,  no  rips,  and  no  rust. 

— Dave  Rennie,  New  Castle,  PA 

Fish  for  fun 

I don’t  know  a trout  from  a shad, 

But  I don’t  think  that  is  too  bad. 

I just  fish  for  fun. 

Like  to  sit  in  the  sun, 

If  I get  skunked,  I’m  not  mad. 

—Hugh  B.  Dunn,  Jr.,  Belle  Vernon, 

PA 


Cool  fisherman 

I never  fish  by  the  book. 

Often  I don’t  use  a hook. 

But  I haven’t  a care 
As  I sit  in  my  chair. 

And  cool  my  feet  in  the  brook. 

— Hugh  B.  Dunn,  Jr.,  Belle  Vernon, 


Wishin’ 

As  I sit  on  the  bank  afishin’, 

I just  keep  on  awishin’ 

Nothing  takes  my  hook. 

In  this  slow-moving  brook, 

I really  don’t  know  what  I’m  missin’. 
—Hugh  B.  Dunn,  Jr.,  Belle  Vernon, 
PA 

Hatch  matcher 

The  trout  were  rising  to  flies 
So  I tried  a light  Cahill  for  size. 

No  strikes,  no  rises 
To  all  colors  and  sizes. 

That  evening  the  trout  were  too  wise. 
— Steven  A.  Shapiro,  Duboistown,  PA 


4 January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Angler  Readers 


Nate's  bait 

There  once  was  a braggart  named  Nate 
Who  claimed  his  tish  largest  to  date. 

A skeptic  who  heard  the  big  tale 
Said,  “You  must  have  caught  a fat 
whale.” 

Laughed  Nate,  “1  used  a whale  for  the 
bait!” 

— Susan  L.  Bailey,  Meehanicsburg,  PA 


Boating  tip 

While  paddling  around  Raystown  Lake, 
I try  to  keep  out  of  the  wake. 

On  boats  speeding  by, 

1 must  keep  my  eye. 

So  should  you  for  your  safety’s  sake. 
— Richard  E.  Knot,  Harrisburg,  PA 

Why  go  boating? 

If  you  need  a hobby  to  do. 

May  I suggest  boating  to  you. 

It’s  good  healthy  fun. 

With  plenty  of  sun. 

Whether  in  rowboat  or  canoe. 
—Richard  E.  Knol,  Harrisburg,  PA 

Drowned 

There  was  a young  fellow  from  town. 
Who  while  boating  would  act  like  a 
clown. 

Then  quick  as  a flash. 

He  fell  with  a splash. 

His  clowning  had  caused  him  to  drown. 
— Richard  E.  Knol,  Harrisburg,  PA 


Big  Rigs 

With  their  big  rigs:  a piece  o’  cake — 
They  just  fly  up  and  down  the  lake. 
But  they  go  so  fast. 

The  best  spots  they  pass. 

Leaving  fish  laughing  in  their  wake. 
—James  M.  Quillen,  Hutsville,  PA 


Forgotten  item 

The  boots,  the  rod,  the  net  and  I, 

The  equipment  I've  got,  none  can  deny. 
With  license  attached. 

And  a spirit  unmatched, 

Alas!  I’ve  forgotten  a fly. 

— Bob  Everest,  Yardley,  PA 

Parents'  lament 

Ten  years  we  spent  teaching  kids  to 
fish. 

Our  children's  success  was  our  only 
wish. 

But  now  that  they’ve  grown  up 
Their  parents  they’ve  shown  up 
So  should  we  feel  pleasure  or  anguish? 
— Janice  A.  Cavanaugh,  Gillett,  PA 


Boater’s  creed 

Now  some  lines  from  a boater-type 
poet — 

Whether  you  sail  your  craft  or  you  row 
it. 

Let  avoiding  collision 
Be  your  primary  mission. 

To  yourself  and  all  boaters  you  owe  it! 

- — Bill  Allbright,  Heber  Springs,  AR 

On  asking  for  limericks 

The  Angler  asks  for  limericks  to  flow. 
Not  realizing  to  some  it  means  go.  and 
go,  go. 

When  one  can’t  resist. 

And  the  mind  will  insist. 

You  may  get  a million,  you  know. 

— Bob  Everest,  Yardley,  PA 

In  conclusion 

In  closing  this  limerick  submittal. 

May  it  help  reach  your  goal  just  a little 
That  we  leam  “fore  and  aft, 

Abeam  and  abaft,” 

And  conclude  at  the  end — not  the 
middle! 

— Bill  Allbright,  Heber  Springs,  AR 

Angler’s  last  word 

In  the  spring  I’m  awake  half  past  four. 
By  five  I am  going  out  the  door. 

At  six  on  the  bank. 

Seven,  my  worm  sank. 

By  eight  I’m  just  starting  to  snore. 

- — Matthew  W.  Cohn,  Duncannon,  PA 

Encore 

Thank  you  for  sending  us  poems. 

Which  made  us  laugh,  sneer,  gasp, 
frown,  wonder  and  groan. 

It’s  now  over  and  edited 

And  readers  are  credited 

With  creating  this  angler-poets-only 

zone. 

— Art  Michaels,  editor,  Pennsylvania 
Angler 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


King 

of  the 

Keystone 

Catfish 

by  Jill  Miller 

One  sunny  afternoon  late  last  August, 
Jim  Tokar,  his  12-year-old  son  Ben. 
my  father  John  Miller,  and  1 set  off 
on  a fishing  expedition.  Little  did  we  know 
what  Ben  would  be  catching  that  evening. 

We  arrived  at  our  destination,  a small, 
seven-acre  farm  pond  in  Crawford  County, 
about  an  hour  later.  After  transferring  our 
gear  into  the  rowboat  that  was  hidden  along 
the  bank,  we  pushed  off  into  the  water. 
About  two-thirds  of  the  pond  was  tilled 
with  water  lilies,  so  we  headed  for  the 
open  area  to  lish  along  the  edge  of  them 
where  we  hoped  to  entice  some  big  bass 
with  a combination  of  shiners  and  a 
few  plugs. 

After  fishing  for  23  hours  with  several 
hits  but  only  catching  two  small  bass  that 
we  released,  we  moved  farther  out  into 
the  open  water  away  from  the  water  lilies. 
As  I was  searching  for  the  location  of  my 
bobber.  I glanced  at  Ben's  bobber,  baited 
with  a shiner,  just  as  it  was  suddenly  pulled 
under  by  something  strong,  and  we  hoped 
big,  too. 

About  20  minutes  later  we  ruled  out  the 
possibility  of  a bass  or  northern  pike  be- 
cause surely  it  would  have  surfaced  by 
then.  This  led  us  to  believe  that  the  fish 
was  a channel  catfish,  and  a big  one,  too. 

Since  Ben  had  hooked  onto  the  fish  about 
a quarter  after  eight  and  had  been  fighting 
it  about  30  minutes,  the  sun  was  now  set- 
ting. A large  flock  of  geese  kept  flying 
over  every  10  minutes,  wanting  to  land 
on  the  pond,  but  our  presence  was  enough 
to  deter  them.  During  this  time  the  fish 
towed  us  around  the  pond,  and  luckily  it 
stayed  away  from  the  water  lilies. 

The  sun  had  finally  set,  and  several  bats 
emerged  to  catch  insects  in  the  growing 
darkness.  The  bobber  had  come  just  below 


the  surface  only  a few  times,  and  we  fi- 
nally caught  a glimpse  of  the  fish's  head, 
if  you  could  call  this  brute  a fish!  It  was 
the  biggest  channel  catfish  we  had  ever 
seen,  and  its  head  was  enormous!  Jim  To- 
kar gasped,  and  the  rest  of  us  stared  in 
awe  at  this  mighty  creature.  As  soon  as 
we  had  a glimpse  of  the  fish,  it  shot  back 
down  into  the  murky  depths. 

It  had  been  over  an  hour  since  we  had 
hooked  the  channel  cat.  and  we  knew  that 
we  had  to  land  it  soon.  We  could  barely 
see  the  opposite  shore  through  the  mist 
that  had  been  eerily  rising  off  the  water. 
The  bobber  almost  constantly  stayed  just 
below  the  surface,  yet  the  fish  was  by  no 
means  ready  to  come  in.  We  really  were 
in  quite  a fix — how  could  we  get  this  huge 
fish  into  the  boat  with  only  a small  land- 
ing net? 

We  voiced  many  ideas  on  how  to  land 
the  fish,  some  good,  like  banking  or  gaff- 
ing it,  and  others  very  strange.  We  finally 
tried  to  make  an  improvised  gaff  by  tying 
hooks  on  a stringer,  but  when  we  lowered 


it  into  the  water,  the  fish  would  have  no 
part  of  it.  It  was  impossible  to  beach  the 
catfish,  because  we  would  lose  it  in  all  the 
water  lilies.  The  only  thing  left  to  do  was 
net  it. 

Ben  got  the  fish  as  close  to  the  surface 
as  possible,  his  rod  almost  bending  dou- 
ble. My  dad  made  a lucky  scoop  with  the 
net  into  the  jet-black  water,  but  only  the 
fish’s  head  would  fit  into  the  net.  The  fish 
thrashed  wildly  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 
Acting  instinctively,  Jim  Tokar  grabbed 
the  12-inch  wide  tail.  Quickly,  the  two 
men  hoisted  the  fish  into  the  boat.  We  did 
it!  We  actually  had  the  fish  in  the  boat 
after  an  hour  and  20  minutes  of  struggling 
with  it. 

On  the  way  back  to  the  car,  each  person 
held  the  fish  in  the  net,  and  we  estimated 
that  it  weighed  over  40  pounds!  We 
wrapped  the  fish  in  a large  plastic  lawn 
bag  and  laid  it  in  the  back  of  the  station 
wagon. 

At  home,  all  the  neighbors,  bringing 
with  them  their  bathroom  scales,  came  over 
the  see  the  channel  cat- 
fish. It  weighed  close  to 
42  pounds,  according  to 
the  scales.  Our  channel 
catfish  beat  the  old  1970 
record  by  several  pounds 
and  inches! 

After  placing  a rope 
through  its  gills  and  tying 
it  to  a post,  the  fish  was 
kept  alive  overnight  in  a 
neighbor’s  small  pond. 
At  six-thirty  the  next 
morning,  a few  of  us  took 
the  fish  to  the  Linesville 
Fish  Culture  Station  to 
have  the  catfish  accu- 
rately weighed.  Ben’s 
channel  catfish  was  413 
pounds,  433  inches,  and 
27i  inches  at  the  girth, 
surpassing  the  old  record 
by  6|  pounds! 

Unfortunately,  the 
channel  catfish  did  not 
qualify  for  a state  record 
because  it  was  caught 
in  a privately  owned 
farm  pond. 

Ben  Tokar  decided  to 
mount  his  huge  catfish. 
We  will  never  forget  the 
brute  that  didn’t  get  away. 

[pa] 


6 January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Significant  changes  occurred  within  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
^Commission  during  this  past  year,  the  121st  year  in  our 
histoiy.  The  Board  of  Commissioners  met  four  times  and  in  July 
1986,  Commissioner  T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr.,  was  elected  pres- 
ident and  Joan  Plumly  was  elected  to  serve  as  vice  president. 
Both  officers  served  in  these  leadership  roles  from  July  8,  1986, 
to  July  13,  1987. 

The  Commission  also  reaffirmed  the  1972  policy  statement 
supporting  the  maintenance  of  separate,  independent  Fish  and 
Game  Commissions. 

In  late  December  the  Commission  approved  major  changes  in 
the  organizational  structure  of  the  staff.  These  changes  abolished 
the  assistant  executive  director  positions,  and  created  six  separate 
bureaus,  all  responsible  to  the  executive  director.  These  changes, 
which  went  into  effect  on  January  2,  together  with  the  retirement 
of  five  key  employees  in  the  spring  of  1987,  have  given  the 
Commission  a much  different  look. 

Fish  propagation  efforts  during  this  past  year  were  very  suc- 
cessful, with  both  our  adult  trout  stocking  program  and  coolwater/ 
warmwater  efforts  having  outstanding  success.  Efforts  to  restore 
American  shad  to  the  Susquehanna  River  continued  to  be  very 
successful.  More  than  7,600  shad  were  captured  in  the  trap  and 
lift  at  Conowingo  Dam  in  Maryland,  and  population  estimates 
below  the  dam  reached  record  high  levels  for  recent  years. 

Law  enforcement  efforts  in  the  field  were  influenced  by  the 
mandate  of  the  Garcia  court  decision  as  it  affected  the  Fair  Labor 
Standards  Act.  These  restrictions  have  had  a predictable  but  major 
impact  on  the  flexibility  of  our  Lish  and  Boat  law  enforcement 
efforts.  Steps  were  taken  to  improve  the  capabilities  of  regional 
law  enforcement  offices  to  provide  public  information  services, 
but  additional  improvements  are  needed. 

The  staff  of  the  Construction  and  Maintenance  Division  com- 
pleted development  of  a new  fishing  and  boating  access  site  on 
Cowanshannock  Creek,  providing  direct  access  to  the  Allegheny 
River  just  above  Kittanning.  In  addition,  work  was  completed 
on  a new  Southwest  Regional  Office  at  Lake  Somerset  and  the 
facility  is  now  occupied  by  law  enforcement,  fisheries  manage- 
ment, and  facility  maintenance  personnel  assigned  to  that  area. 

Lisheries  management  efforts  during  the  year  continued  to  fine- 
tune  our  coldwater  management  areas  with  a number  of  new 
special  regulation  areas  being  implemented.  Two  new  delayed- 
harvest,  artificial-lures-only  special  regulation  areas  were  estab- 
lished. A 33-inch  minimum  size  limit  on  striped  bass  was  enacted 
for  the  Delaware  River  and  estuary. 

The  Office  of  Information  & Education  was  retitled  the  Bureau 
of  Education  and  Information,  and  Ms.  Cheryl  Riley  joined  the 
Commission  in  August  as  its  new  director.  Under  her  guidance, 
a number  of  new  aquatic  resource  education  programs  were  im- 
plemented in  public  schools  on  a pilot  project  basis. 

Public  interest  in  both  fishing  and  boating  programs  has  re- 
mained very  high,  and  a record  number  of  boat  registrations  was 
issued.  In  addition,  our  Bureau  of  Administrative  Services  reports 
fishing  license  sales  continue  to  remain  well  in  excess  of  one 
million.  Commission  programs  were  able  to  hold  the  line  on 
expenditures  during  this  past  year.  However,  revenues  are  ex- 


pected to  fall  short  of  projected  expenditures  that  are  required  to 
continue  current  program  levels.  Due  to  this  situation,  the  Com- 
mission in  January  1 986  approved  implementation  of  legislative 
efforts  to  create  a trout/salmon  stamp  to  help  finance  future  Com- 
mission program  efforts,  and  also  gave  authorization  to  staff  to 
seek  an  increase  in  boat  registration  fees.  These  efforts  will  con- 
tinue at  an  increased  pace  in  the  next  fiscal  year. 

Our  boating  safety  education  program  continues  to  receive 
nationwide  recognition  and  exemplifies  the  high  level  of  dedi- 
cation that  exists  among  Commission  employees. 

One  of  the  major  events  that  affected  the  Fish  Commission 
during  the  past  year  occurred  on  May  29,  when  former  Executive 
Director  Ralph  W.  Abele  retired  after  15  years  and  five  months 
of  service  to  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission.  Mr.  Abele’s 
capable  leadership  had  a significant  impact  on  all  Commission 
activities,  and  his  presence  will  be  badly  missed. 

The  Commission  staff  continues  to  be  very  active  with  the 
Atlantic  States  Marine  Fisheries  Commission  and  the  Mid-At- 
lantic Fishery  Management  Council,  along  with  a host  of  other 
interstate  and  intrastate  entities. 

The  Commission  remains  grateful  for  the  support  and  help  of 
the  Pennsylvania  General  Assembly,  the  many  active  sportsmen’s 
.groups,  the  fishing  and  boating  public,  and  all  residents  of  the 
Commonwealth  who  support  our  efforts  and  enable  us  to  fulfill 
our  role  as  an  independent  administrative  agency. 

Edward  R.  Miller 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


8 January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Bureau  of  Education 
and  Information 


The  Office  of  Information  was  renamed 
Education  and  Information  to  reflect  its 
mission  better  to  conduct  public  education 
and  information  programs  that  promote 
fishing  and  boating  and  improved  aquatic 
resources  in  Pennsylvania.  This  mission 
makes  a stronger  commitment  to  educate 
youths  and  adults  about  Pennsylvania’s 
aquatic  resources  and  how  to  use  them. 

To  carry  out  its  goals  and  objectives, 
the  office  spends  about  five  percent  of  the 
Commission’s  total  budget  to  produce  and 
promote  two  magazines,  statewide  radio 
programs  and  news  releases,  numerous 
publications  and  graphic  services,  a youth 
program  called  PLAY  (Pennsylvania 
League  of  Angling  Youth),  teaching  ma- 
terials on  aquatic  resource  education,  vis- 
itor center  exhibits  and  programs,  the 
Adopt-a-Stream  Program,  the  Angler 
Recognition  Program  and  several  special 
public  relations  events.  A staff  of  13  full- 
time employees,  assisted  by  a volunteer 
Education  and  Information  Corps  of  20, 
handles  the  numerous  responsibilities. 

Pennsylvania  Angler 

With  a circulation  of  over  50,000,  the 
Angler  keeps  Pennsylvania  fishermen  up 
to  date  on  their  sport,  clues  them  in  to  the 
most  desirable  fishing  waters,  educates  them 
on  a wide  range  of  conservation  subjects 
and  informs  them  of  Commission  deci- 
sions and  actions.  In  its  56th  year  of  pub- 
lication, the  Angler  is  still  the  most  visible 
public  information  effort  of  the  Pish  Com- 
mission. 

During  this  fiscal  year,  the  article 
“Crankin’  Way  Down,”  by  Mike  Bleech, 
which  appeared  in  the  October  1986  issue, 
won  second  place  in  the  Outdoor  Writers 
Association  of  America/Plastics  Research 
Writing  Contest. 

Boat  Pennsylvania 

More  than  10,000  boating  enthusiasts 
read  Boat  Pennsy  lvania,  a quarterly  mag- 
azine that  features  articles  for  everyone 
from  motorboaters  to  sailors  and  canoe- 
ists. The  informative  how-to  articles,  where- 
to features,  safety  reminders  and  other 
boating  features  are  popular  with  this  group 
of  sporting  enthusiasts. 

Education 

Education  efforts  were  expanded  be- 
yond the  PLAY  Program,  which  contin- 
ues to  be  popular  with  elementary-age 


youngsters  who  enjoy  the  newsletters,  patch 
and  packet  of  fishing-related  items.  Nine 
teachers  around  the  state  piloted  a junior 
high  school  life  science  curriculum  enti- 
tled “Water  Resources  in  Pennsylvania.” 
The  teaching  module  received  positive 
comments  and  is  being  revised  for  final 
publication.  One  of  the  goals  of  the  Bu- 
reau of  Education  and  Information  is  to 
develop  an  aquatic  resource  education  pro- 
gram that  will  be  available  for  kindergar- 
ten through  high  school  classrooms  and 
can  be  used  by  youth  clubs  and  organi- 
zations. 

Media  relations  and 
broadcasting 

News  releases  and  a weekly  radio  pro- 
gram are  distributed  statewide  to  the  me- 
dia, which  in  turn  informs  the  public  of 
news  that  may  be  of  interest  to  them.  Tra- 
ditionally, trout  season  is  always  the  bus- 
iest time  in  the  office,  but  more  and  more 
people  are  becoming  interested  in  fishing 
for  warm/coolwater  species  and  in  sum- 
mer boating.  The  Commission's  tele- 
phone hotline  also  keeps  the  public  in- 
formed on  the  latest  seasonal  information. 

A new  Commission  slogan,  logo  and 
poster  were  developed  promoting  “Re- 
source First.”  The  message  conveys  the 
mandate  of  the  Fish  Commission  to  “pro- 
tect, conserve  and  enhance"  the  water  re- 
sources of  the  Commonwealth.  It’s  a mes- 
sage we  want  to  promote  whenever 
possible. 


Publications 

Most  questions  about  fishing  and  boat- 
ing can  be  answered  by  any  one  of  several 
free  publications.  The  Commission  also 
sells  for  a nominal  cost  a few  special  pub- 
lications and  items,  as  well  as  wall  charts 
of  Pennsylvania  fishes,  reptiles  and  am- 
phibians. Most  publications,  however,  are 
free  for  the  asking  and  provide  valuable 
advice  on  fishing  and  boating  opportuni- 
ties, how-tos,  where-tos  and  other  infor- 
mation of  interest  to  the  general  public. 

Graphic  services 

Services  are  provided  to  all  Commis- 
sion bureaus  for  graphic  design  of  publi- 
cations, artwork,  print  specifications  and 
coordination  of  printing  within  the  agency 
and  with  outside  vendors.  The  artist  illus- 
trator works  closely  with  the  print  shop  on 
production  of  publications.  Acquisition  of 
a new  press  has  made  it  faster,  easier  and 
more  economical  to  produce  many  of  the 
publications. 


RESOURCE 

FIRST 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Adopt-a-Stream 

In  its  second  year,  the  Adopt-a-Stream 
Program  now  has  85  waterways  officially 
adopted.  The  Commission  oversees  the 
program,  hut  most  of  the  hands-on  work 
is  done  by  volunteers  from  participating 
organizations.  Projects  range  from  litter 
pickup  to  building  fish  habitat  improve- 
ment devices  to  fencing  farmland  streams. 
This  program  involves  citizens  in  the 
“Resource  First”  concerns  of  the  Com- 
mission . 

Angler  Recognition  Program 

This  past  year  the  Fish  Commission  rec- 
ognized 1 ,893  anglers  with  awards.  Two 


new  state  records  were  set — one  for  striped 
bass  and  one  for  white  bass.  In  addition, 
conservation  awards  were  sent  to  Boy 
Scouts,  Girl  Scouts,  youth  conservation 
camps,  junior  conservation  campers, 
sportsmen’s  clubs,  individual  sportsmen, 
civic  leaders  and  other  agency  employees. 

Public  relations 

One  of  the  main  events  of  the  year  was 
Day  on  the  River,  held  on  Fish-for-Free 
Day,  June  6,  1987,  at  Fort  Hunter  on  the 
Susquehanna  River,  in  Harrisburg. 

The  public  event,  which  drew  about 
1 ,000  people,  was  co-sponsored  by  the 
Fish  Commission  and  Dauphin  County 


Parks  and  Recreation,  with  many  envi- 
ronmental agencies  and  organizations 
participating.  Those  attending  learned 
more  about  Pennsylvania  rivers,  their  im- 
portance and  how  to  protect  as  well  as 
enjoy  them. 


Bureau  of  Boating 

Administration 

The  Boating  Advisory  Board  met  three 
times  to  consider  changes  to  the  boating 
regulations.  Approved  changes  included  a 
revision  to  noise  restrictions  to  phase  in 
lower  allowable  decibel  readings  over  the 
next  three  years;  increased  fees  for  Walnut 
Creek  mooring  slips  to  cover  the  costs  of 
security;  a stricter  definition  of  “state  of 
principal  use”  relative  to  boat  registra- 
tions; and  updated  capacity  plate  regula- 
tions that  would  require  capacity  plates  to 
be  affixed  to  all  boats. 

The  Board  also  reviewed  and  confirmed 
its  recommendation  that  the  registration 
fees  for  motorboats  be  raised  and  that  non- 
powered  boats  be  included  in  the  registra- 
tion system  for  the  first  time.  Revenues 
generated  from  such  increases  would  be 
used  to  support  the  Commission  boating 
programs,  which  benefit  all  boaters. 

A major  portion  of  revenue  accruing  to 
the  Boat  Fund  continues  to  come  from 
refund  of  tax  paid  on  motorboat  fuel.  Dur- 
ing 1986,  the  average  consumption  of  fuel 
use  increased  across  all  classes  of  boats, 
most  likely  reflecting  the  trend  toward  lower 
prices  at  the  gasoline  pump. 

The  Commission  also  received  a grant 
from  the  U.S.  Coast  Guard  in  support  of 
its  boating  safety  efforts.  The  source  of 
this  money  is  the  federal  tax  paid  on  ma- 
rine tax.  Pennsylvania’s  share  of  this  fed- 
eral grant  to  the  states  has  declined  in  re- 
cent years  because  of  an  inadequate  state 
funding  base,  which  has  resulted  in  rela- 
tively stable  expenditures  in  state  boating 
safety  programs.  It  is  anticipated  that  this 
trend  will  continue  until  a boost  in  reg- 
istration fees  is  realized. 

Boat  Registration  Section 

In  January  1987,  over  260,000  renewal 
notices  were  mailed  to  those  persons  who 
had  boats  registered  during  the  preceding 
two  years.  Although  the  volume  of  return 
mail  was  exceptionally  heavy  during  the 
early  part  of  the  year,  most  applications 
were  processed  and  returned  in  time  for 
the  boating  season.  The  small,  six-person 
staff  of  the  section  handled  an  estimated 
280,000  registration  transactions  and  in- 


10  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Art  Michaels 


numerable  telephone  requests.  Some 
23,000  new  boats  were  registered.  Penn- 
sylvania now  registers  230,000  motor- 
boats  and  ranks  16th  in  the  nation.  Over 
60  percent  of  boats  registered  in  Pennsyl- 
vania were  less  than  16  feet  in  length. 

Boating  Safety  Education 
Section 

This  section's  philosophy  on  safety  in 
and  on  the  water  is  based  fundamentally 
on  hands-on  education.  The  Boating  and 
Water  Safety  Awareness  program.  Imple- 
menting Boating:  A Practical  Approach 
to  Instructional  Methods , and  the  Penn- 
sylvania Water  Rescue  program  are  the 
two  major  training  programs  this  section 
has  that  are  continually  expanding. 

This  past  year,  instructors  of  the  Com- 
mission's Boating  and  Water  Safety 
Awareness  program  from  all  around  the 
state  got  together  for  a teacher  workshop. 
The  primary  purpose  of  the  workshop  was 
to  update  and  evaluate  the  Boating  and 
Water  Safety  program.  Several  excellent 
suggestions,  including  developing  supple- 
mental material  to  the  program  and  sim- 
plifying the  record-keeping  process,  were 
adopted.  Presently,  17  school  districts  and 
16  youth  conservation  and  camping  or- 
ganizations are  regularly  using  the  pro- 
gram throughout  the  Commonwealth. 

The  Commission’s  Water  Rescue  pro- 
gram received  the  highest  compliment  this 
past  year.  It  was  adopted  by  the  National 
Association  for  Search  and  Rescue  (NA- 
SAR)  as  the  national  training  program. 
NASAR  hopes  to  offer  the  program  on  a 
national  level,  as  the  Commission  does  at 
the  state  level,  to  train  police,  fire,  and 
rescue  personnel  in  the  proper  procedures 
used  in  basic  water  rescue  and  safe  boat 
handling.  The  Commission  plans  to  assist 
NASAR  in  establishing  instructor  groups 
to  implement  the  national  program  effec- 
tively. 

The  workshop  approach  works  well  in 
the  Boating  Safety  Education  Section. 
Through  a workshop  the  Commission  was 
able  to  qualify  U.S.  Coast  Guard  Auxil- 
iary instructors  to  present  a unit  on  the 
state's  legal  boating  requirements,  ena- 
bling those  taking  the  Auxiliary  Boating 
Safety  and  Seamanship  Course  to  qualify 
for  the  state  Basic  Boating  Course  certif- 
icate. 

This  section  also  offers  an  assortment 
of  boating  and  water  safety  presentations 
through  speaking  engagements  and  spe- 
cially requested  training  sessions.  During 
this  past  year  over  35  of  these  programs 
were  presented. 


Boating  accidents 

In  1987  there  were  75  reported  boating 
accidents,  compared  to  78  in  1986.  These 
accidents  have  resulted  in  16  fatalities,  40 
injuries  and  over  $216,661  in  property 
damages. 

Of  the  16  boating  fatalities,  eight  in- 
volved the  use  of  nonpowered  boats.  Cap- 
sizings/falls  overboard  continue  to  be  the 
most  frequent  type  of  accident.  This  cat- 
egory caused  12  deaths.  Lack  of  or  non- 
use of  PFDs  was  a contributing  factor  in 
12  of  these  fatalities.  Alcohol  was  present 
in  five  of  these  accidents. 

Aids  to  navigation 

For  the  aids  to  navigation  program,  1986 
was  a growing  year.  Purchases  included 
200  buoys  and  1 (X)  Danger  Dam  Ahead, 
50  Slow  No  Wake,  and  50  Water  Navi- 
gation signs,  and  of  these,  the  Commis- 
sion installed  70  Danger  Dam  Ahead,  45 
Slow  No  Wake,  and  25  Waterway  Nav- 
igation signs  throughout  the  Common- 
wealth, replacing  buoys  with  signs  where 
appropriate.  Charts  indicating  numbers  and 
locations  of  buoys  and  signs  were  produced 
to  provide  a permanent  reference  and  in- 
ventory. The  Commission  certified  18 
commercial  passenger-carrying  boats  and 
16  new  operators  of  passenger-carrying 
boats.  All  current  floating  structure  per- 
mits were  reissued,  and  1,735  capacity 
plates  also  were  issued  by  the  Com- 
mission. 


Bureau  of 
Law  Enforcement 

During  the  report  period,  the  Bureau  of 
Law  Enforcement  operated  with  live 
waterways  conservation  officer  districts 
vacant.  This  has  been  stretching  our  re- 
sources to  the  limit  and  has  required  us  to 
assign  personnel  to  cover  additional  dis- 
tricts or  partial  districts  to  provide  some 
degree  of  public  service.  We  have  been 
somewhat  frustrated  in  our  attempts  to  fill 
these  existing  vacancies;  however,  we  are 
making  some  progress  as  Civil  Service 
testing  was  started  and  tentative  plans  are 
to  conduct  a Conservation  Officer  School 
and  place  the  new  officers  in  the  field  by 
June  30,  1988. 

In-service  training  was  again  conducted 
for  all  officers  in  January  with  a variety 
of  subjects  covered,  including  a legal  up- 
date on  current  appellate  court  decisions 
and  opinions  that  affect  our  work;  review 
of  environmental  matters,  such  as  high- 
way construction — PennDOT  require- 


ments and  wetland  identification;  Fduca- 
tion/Information  and  Fisheries  programs 
updates;  review  of  Game  and  Wildlife 
codification  highlights;  and  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  regulation  review/up- 
dates. Other  training  for  all  waterways 
conservation  officers  and  deputy  water- 
ways conservation  officers  includes  the 
annual  CPR  recertification  and  firearms 
requalifications. 

Newly-appointed  deputies  completed  a 
60-hour  Basic  Law  Enforcement  Officer 
Course  and  approximately  50  deputies  at- 
tended 40  hours  of  advanced  training  that 
included  boat  operation,  boat  safety,  B.U.I. 
detection,  pollution  investigation  tech- 
niques, as  well  as  advanced  law  enforce- 
ment techniques  and  public  relations  ac- 
tivities. 

Without  good  water  quality  in  our 
streams  and  lakes,  fishing  and  boating 
would  be  virtually  nonexistent.  Conser- 
vation officers  and  their  deputies,  in  co- 
operation with  the  Department  of  Envi- 
ronmental Resources,  investigated  almost 
5(K)  confirmed  water  pollution  and/or  stream 
disturbance  incidents.  Appropriate  en- 
forcement action  was  taken  in  many  of 
these  cases.  Officers,  during  the  year,  also 
reviewed  and  made  recommendations  on 
1 ,400  stream  encroachment  and  350  mine 
draining  applications  to  ensure  that  the 
proposed  work  would  have  minimal  effect 
on  water  quality. 

Officers  perform  a good  portion  of  the 
Commission’s  Education/Information  work 
and  in  a variety  of  w'ays.  This  would  in- 
clude, but  not  be  limited  to,  setting  up  and 
working  at  various  displays  at  fairs,  malls 
and  especially  at  sportsmen's  shows.  This 
has  always  been  a good  opportunity  for 
anglers  and  boaters  to  meet  Commission 
personnel  and  all  questions  about  our  pro- 
grams and/or  laws  and  regulations.  Con- 
servation officers  attended  many  sports- 
men’s club  and  boating  group  meetings  in 
an  attempt  to  keep  those  attending  up  to 
date  on  Commission  activities.  Bureau  of 
Law  Enforcement  personnel  also  attend 
and/or  present  specific  programs  to  special 
population  groups  such  as  the  mentally 
and/or  physically  handicapped  and  senior 
citizens. 

Through  routine  law  enforcement  ef- 
forts, officers  contacted  thousands  of  an- 
glers and  boaters.  Over  10,000  persons 
were  cited  for  various  infractions  of  fish- 
ing/boating laws/regulations  and  over 
30,000  warnings  were  issued.  Approxi- 
mately 55,000  boats  were  checked  by  field 
personnel  with  over  37,000  of  those  meet- 
ing legal  requirements. 

January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 1 


A big  percentage  of  the  fishing  viola- 
tions are  fishing  without  a license,  littering 
and  Commission  property  violations.  The 
largest  number  of  boating  violations  con- 
tinues to  be  a shortage  of  a sufficient  num- 
ber of  personal  flotation  devices  carried 
on  board  and  boats  not  registered. 

Each  year  since  1984,  we  have  pro- 
cessed a number  of  Boating  Under  the 
Influence  of  Alcohol  or  a Controlled  Sub- 
stance cases.  Penalties  for  violation  of  this 
particular  section  of  law  can  be  a fine  of 
$250  to  $2,500  and  90  days  in  jail  plus 
loss  of  boating  privileges  for  up  to  two 
years,  depending  on  the  circumstances. 
Overall,  compliance  with  this  particular 
section  of  the  Fish  and  Boat  Code  has 
been  good. 

Bureau  of  Fisheries 

Division  of  Fisheries 
Management 

The  Division  of  Fisheries  Management 
is  comprised  of  field  personnel  and  a cen- 
tral office  staff.  The  field  personnel,  seven 
area  fisheries  managers  and  their  support 
staff  are  assigned  on  a drainage-area  basis. 
The  central  office  staff  includes  a clerical 
group  and  a technical  group  of  specialists, 
such  as  a rare  and  endangered  species  co- 
ordinator, a coldwater  unit  leader  and  a 
warmwater  unit  leader.  The  role  of  each 
specialty  group  is  to  coordinate  manage- 
ment of  all  fisheries  (including  reptiles  and 
amphibians)  to  conserve,  protect  and  en- 
hance the  fishery  resource  and  provide  op- 
timum recreational  fishing  to  the  angler. 

The  bulk  of  the  Division's  time  was 
spent  between  two  Dingell-Johnson  Act 
funded  projects:  the  Fisheries  Manage- 
ment Project  and  the  Technical  Guidance 
Project. 

The  Fisheries  Management  Project  is  a 
plan  designed  to  collect  baseline  data  and 
information  necessary  to  manage  Penn- 
sylvania’s diverse  fisheries  properly.  The 
project  includes  documentation  of  the 
quality  and  quantity  of  Pennsylvania’s 
fisheries,  the  development  and  implemen- 
tation of  management  plans,  the  dissem- 
ination of  project  data  to  the  angler,  and 
the  evaluation  of  management  techniques 
(such  as  stocking,  habitat  manipulation  and 
size  and  creel  limits)  vital  to  optimum  de- 
velopment of  management  plans. 

A c section  of  the  Common- 

wealth's ries  resources  received  at- 
tention fi  nagement  personnel.  From 
frequent  \ ' emistry  checks  to  inten- 

12  January  i msylvania  Angler 


sive  fish  population  studies,  some  129 
streams  and  rivers,  from  unstocked  brook 
trout  streams  to  most  of  the  major  rivers, 
were  worked  in  fiscal  year  1 986—87.  The 
50  reservoirs  and  lakes  worked  ranged  in 
size  from  a few  acre  muskellunge  rearing 
marsh  to  Presque  Isle  Bay. 

The  Technical  Guidance  Project  covers 
a variety  of  disciplines  within  the  Com- 
mission, including  fisheries  management. 
The  project  is  structured  to  provide  guid- 
ance to  other  regulatory  bodies,  groups, 
institutions,  and  individuals  on  the  specific 
impact  that  their  activity  or  the  activity  of 
others  regulated  by  them  has  on  the  re- 
source. It  is  essential  that  such  bodies, 
groups,  institutions  and  individuals  (who 
will  affect  Pennsylvania’s  fisheries  and 
fisheries  habitats)  be  provided  with  sound 
technically  oriented  guidance  and  infor- 
mation that  will  be  useful  in  making  de- 
cisions. 

During  the  1986-87  fiscal  year,  the  staff 
performed  a substantial  amount  of  tech- 
nical guidance  service  to  a variety  of  re- 
questors. Subjects  included:  cooperative 
nursery  perspective  site  evaluations,  river 
dredging,  hydropower  projects  on  numer- 


ous waters,  Linn  Run  acid  precipitation 
study,  mine  reclamation,  small  pond  man- 
agement, herbiciding,  fish  flesh  contami- 
nation, fish  kill  investigations  and  hear- 
ings, landfills,  mining  permit  applications, 
priority  water  body  surveys,  collecting  fish 
for  contaminant  analysis,  impact  of  ero- 
sion and  sedimentation,  water  allocations, 
stream  encroachments,  DER  water  quality 
issues,  operation  of  fish  passage  facilities, 
lake  drawdowns,  watershed  land  use,  flood 
emergency  projects,  solid  waste  site  de- 
velopment, bnne  disposal,  superfund  sites, 
habitat  improvement  and  wetlands  en- 
croachments. 

The  Operation  FUTURE  Task  Force 
continued  to  serve  as  a forum  for  inhouse 
communication  on  ideas  for  the  future 
management  of  Commonwealth  fishery 
resources.  During  the  fiscal  year,  empha- 
sis was  given  to  proposals  and  strategies 
for  undertaking  new  directions  in  man- 
aging the  Commonwealth’s  warmwater  and 
coolwater  fisheries. 

In  addition  to  surveying  waters  and  pro- 
viding technical  guidance  on  the  Com- 
monwealth’s fisheries,  the  staff  has  con- 
ducted or  participated  in  numerous  studies 


FISH  STOCKING  STATISTICS— 1986-87  FISCAL  YEAR 
STATE-FEDERAL  STOCKING  PROGRAM 

Coldwater  Fisheries 

No.  of  No.  of  No.  of 
Areas  Miles  Acres 

Stocked  Stocked  Stocked 

Number  of  streams  stocked  with  adult  trout  ...  815 

Miles  of  streams  stocked  with  adult  trout  4,957 

Acres  of  streams  stocked  with  adult  trout 22,636 

Number  of  lakes  stocked  with  adult  trout  115 

Acres  of  lakes  stocked  with  adult  trout  21 ,474 

Totals  930  4,957  44,110 

Number  of  coldwater  fish  (trout  and  salmon)  stocked: 

Fry  — -0- 

Fingerling  — 2,760,087 
Adult  — 5,264,256 

Total  — 8,024,343 


Warmwater  Fisheries 

Number  of  warmwater  areas  stocked  122 

Miles  of  warmwater  streams  stocked 

Miles  of  warmwater  rivers  stocked  

Acres  of  warmwater  ponds  and  lakes  stocked  . 

Totals  122 

Number  of  warmwater  fish  stocked: 

Fry  —62,199,125 
Fingerling  — 2,004,309 
Adult  — 136,200 

Total  — 64,339,634 


227 

861 

1,088 


95,006 

95,006 


GRAND  TOTAL  OF  ALL  SPECIES  STOCKED  72,363,977 


RECORD  OF  FISH  STOCKED 
FISCAL  YEAR  JULY  1,  1986,  TO  JUNE  30,1987 
State-Federal  Stocking  Program 
TROUT 


SPECIES 

FRY 

FINGERLING 

ADULT 

GRAND  TOTAL 

Number 

Number 

Weight 

Number 

Weight 

NUMBER 

WEIGHT 

Brook  Trout 

— 

391.090 

1 1 ,870 

1,213,550 

548,672 

1,604,640 

560,542 

Brown  Trout 

— 

355,700 

14,221 

1 ,891 ,766 

901,957 

2,247,466 

916,178 

Rainbow  Trout 

— 

465,686 

12,052 

2,109,915 

1,023,852 

2,575,601 

1,035,904 

Palomino  Rbw  Trout 

— 

— 

— 

41,825 

37,081 

41,825 

37,081 

Lake  Trout 

— 

11,600 

761 

5,200 

1,635 

16,800 

2,396 

Steelhead  Trout 

— 

562,450 

33,166 

2,000 

690 

564,450 

33,856 

TOTAL  TROUT 

— 

1,786,526 

72,070 

5,264,256 

2,513,887 

7,050,782 

2,585,957 

SALMON 


Atlantic  Salmon 

— 

24,176 

3,273 

— 

— 

24,176 

3,273 

Coho  Salmon 

— 

914,385 

69,733 

— 

— 

914,385 

69,733 

Kokanee  Salmon 

— 

35,000 

735 

— 

— 

35,000 

735 

TOTAL  SALMON 

— 

973,561 

73,741 

— 

— 

973,561 

73,741 

FORAGE  FISH 


Fathead  Minnows 

— 

458,645 

921 

128,600 

314 

587,245 

1,235 

Gizzard  Shad 

— 

— 

— 

5,100 

320 

5,100 

320 

Threadfin  Shad 

— 

— 

— 

2,500 

55 

2,500 

55 

TOTAL  FORAGE 
FISH 

— 

458,645 

921 

136,200 

689 

594,845 

1,610 

GAMEFISH 


SPECIES 

FRY 

FINGERLING 

ADULT 

GRAND  TOTAL 

Number 

Number 

Weight 

Number 

Weight 

NUMBER 

WEIGHT 

American  Shad 

13,399,125 

60,645 

727 

— 

— 

13,459,770 

727 

Amur  Pike  (Hybrid) 

— 

3,150 

549 

— 

— 

3,150 

549 

Chain  Pickerel 

— 

15,275 

597 

— 

— 

15,275 

597 

Largemouth  Bass 

— 

23,329 

793 

— 

— 

23,329 

793 

Muskellunge  (P) 

— 

83,571 

3,592 

— 

— 

83,571 

3,592 

Muskellunge  (T) 

— 

90,175 

9,779 

— 

— 

90,175 

9,779 

Northern  Pike 

— 

19,550 

2,157 

— 

— 

19,550 

2,157 

Saugeye 

100,000 

2,700 

36 

— 

— 

102,700 

36 

Smallmouth  Bass 

— 

59,000 

121 

— 

— 

59,000 

121 

Striped  Bass 

200,000 

90,000 

41 

— 

— 

290,000 

41 

Striped  Bass  x 
White  Bass 

— 

65,000 

114 

— 

— 

65,000 

114 

Walleye 

48,500,000 

655,825 

3,584 

— 

— 

49,155,825 

3,584 

TOTAL  GAMEFISH 

62,199,125 

1,168,220 

22,090 

— 

— 

63,367,345 

22,090 

PANFISH 


Black  Crappie 

— 

183,723 

2,298 

— 

— 

183,723 

2,298 

Bluegill 

— 

500 

7 

— 

— 

500 

7 

Channel  Catfish 

— 

181,971 

2,182 

— 

— 

181,971 

2,182 

Redear  Sunfish 

— 

10,750 

10 

— 

— 

10,750 

10 

Yellow  Perch 

— 

500 

41 

— 

— 

500 

41 

TOTAL  PANFISH 

— 

377,444 

4,538 

— 

— 

377,444 

4,538 

GRAND  TOTALS 

62,199,125 

4,764,396 

173,360 

5,400,456 

2,514,576 

72,363,977 

2,687,936 

or  endeavors.  As  part  of  either  D-J  project, 
they  are  intended  to  gain  additional  in- 
sights into  the  Commonwealth's  fisheries 
or  to  undertake  implementation  of  man- 
agement plans.  These  special  projects 
include: 

Limestone  springs  wild  trout  study. 

Annual  monitoring  of  trout  populations 
continued  in  the  special  regulation  areas 
of  Big  Spring  Creek,  Letort  Spring  Run 
and  Falling  Spring  Branch. 

Trophy  trout  waters  study.  Trout 
populations  in  the  trophy  trout  special  reg- 
ulation areas  of  Fishing  Creek,  Clinton 
County,  and  Cedar  Run,  Tioga  and  Ly- 
coming counties,  were  again  assessed  as 
part  of  annual  sampling  efforts. 

Tulpehocken  Creek  fingerling  trout 
study.  Early  summer  electrofishing  oc- 
curred in  the  delayed-harvest  tailwater 
sections  of  Tulpehocken  Creek,  Berks 
County,  to  evaluate  the  fall  stocking  of 
fingerling  brown  and  rainbow  trout. 

Delayed-harvest  area  studies.  An  in- 
tensive assessment  of  instream  survival  and 
movement  of  catchable  size  trout  stocked 
from  various  hatcheries  was  conducted  in 
the  delayed  harvest  area  on  White  Deer 
Creek,  Union  County.  Similar  but  less  ex- 
tensive work  occurred  on  Tobyhanna 
Creek,  Monroe  County,  and  Cool  Spnng 
Creek,  Mercer  County. 

Wild  trout  reassessment  efforts.  Sev- 
eral other  stream  sections  managed  as  wild 
trout  waters  (no  stocking)  were  examined 
to  assess  the  use  of  the  no-stocking  tech- 
nique with  dependence  on  natural  repro- 
ductions. 

Seven-inch  size  limit  study.  Ongoing 
assessment  of  brook  trout  population 
abundance  and  fish  length  continued  on 
three  unstocked  streams  relative  to  the  in- 
crease in  minimum  size  limit  implemented 
in  1983. 

Conservation  lakes  study.  Various 
types  and  intensities  of  fish  sampling  oc- 
curred on  lakes  managed  with  elevated 
size  limits  for  most  gamefish  species  and 
reduced  daily  creel  limits  for  sportfishes 
as  implemented  in  January  1987.  Angler 
use  and  harvest  information  was  collected 
at  Cross  Creek  Lake  through  late  Septem- 
ber 1986,  at  Lake  Arthur,  Blue  Marsh 
Lake  and  Conewago  Lake  through  late  fall 
and  then  during  the  ice  fishing  period. 

Riverine  smallmouth  bass  project 

During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1986, 
smallmouth  bass  populations  at  numerous 
river  and  stream  sites  throughout  the  Com- 
monwealth were  studied  to  generate  in- 
formation on  status  following  the  imple- 

January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


mentation  of  the  10-inch  minimum  size 
limit  and  year-round  season  and  the  im- 
plementation of  a 15-inch  minimum  size 
and  2 bass  daily  limit  during  the  spring 
for  flowing  waters  in  the  Susquehanna 
drainage  in  19X7.  Population  estimates  were 
conducted  at  several  sites  including  two 
areas  of  the  Juniata  River.  Data  on  mat- 
uration and  egg  production  was  also  col- 
lected. Angler  use  and  harvest  data  was 
collected  through  to  early  fall  1986  on  a 
stretch  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  N. 
Branch,  and  the  Juniata  River  and  into 
mid-summer  on  Bald  Eagle  Creek  and 
Standing  Stone  Creek. 

Lake  reclamation  efforts.  Poe  Lake, 
a 24-acre  Bureau  of  State  Parks  lake,  was 
drained  to  facilitate  a DER  dredging  op- 
eration. Any  remaining  pools  were  chem- 
ically treated  to  eradicate  undesired  spe- 
cies in  a lake  managed  for  trout.  Stocking 
resumed  in  the  spring  of  1987. 

Colyer  Lake,  a 77-acre  Commission 
waterway,  was  dewatered  to  permit  a re- 
start of  the  lake  fishery  with  only  the  spe- 
cies desired,  to  install  fish  habitat  struc- 
tures, to  apply  lime  to  increase  substrate 
fertility  and  to  improve  launching  facili- 
ties. Stocking,  including  threadfin  shad 
(forage),  was  initiated  in  spring  of  1987. 
The  lake  will  be  open  to  public  angling 
in  January  1988  under  the  conservation 
lake  regulations. 

Herpetology  & endangered  species. 

Staff  specialist  presented  numerous  slide 
lectures  on  Pennsylvania  snakes,  endan- 
gered and  threatened  fishes  and  reptiles  to 
a variety  of  audiences;  coordinated  Com- 
mission involvement  in  Wild  Resource 
Conservation  Fund;  processed  156  scien- 
tific collector's  permits  and  responded  to 
numerous  correspondence  and  telephone 
requests  for  information  about  endangered 
species  occurrence;  provided  material  for 
Angler  article,  reviewed  new  Amphibians 
& Reptiles  of  Pennsylvania  publication; 
served  on  the  Herpetological  Advisory 
Committee;  processed  428  individual  snake 
hunter  permits  and  13  organized  hunt  per- 
mits, attended  the  NE  nongame  technical 
committee  meeting  “Strategies  in  Non- 
Game  Management”  and  the  NE  Re- 
gional Heritage  meeting;  participated  in 
PA  Wild  Resources  conference  for  PA 
Academy  of  Sciences  Symposium,  “The 
PA  Biological  Survey — A Legacy  of  Penn’s 
Woods";  conducted  field  habitat  surveys 
of  species  of  special  concern  with  person- 
nel from  a variety  of  groups  (including  the 
Nature  Conservancy,  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania Conservancy)  and  provided  various 
commentary  to  consulting  groups  and 


agencies  regarding  concerned  habitats  and 
species. 

Education  & information.  The  staff 
continued  to  work  with  the  angling  public, 
with  fellow  Commission  personnel  and  with 
individuals  from  the  private  and  public 
agency  sector  regarding  Fish  Commission 
programs  and  the  resources  for  which  we 
are  responsible  as  an  agency. 

Cooperative  Nursery  Branch 

The  Cooperative  Nursery  Branch  is  part 
of  the  Division  of  Trout  Production,  Bu- 
reau of  Fisheries.  As  of  June  30,  1987, 
Cooperative  Nursery  Branch  files  listed 
1 55  organizations  as  sponsors  of  1 83  cold- 
water  nursery  units,  five  bass  nursery  units 
and  one  walleye  nursery  unit.  Ten  of  the 
coldwater  units  and  two  warmwater  units 
were  inactive.  The  nursery  units  are  lo- 
cated within  50  counties. 

Following  additions  and  deletions,  the 
number  of  sponsors  and  the  number  of 
nursery  units  each  increased  by  one  while 
the  number  of  counties  involved  remained 
the  same.  Three  prospective  and  four  es- 
tablished sponsor  nursery  units  were  under 
construction  as  of  June  30,  1987. 

Additions  and  major  improvements  in- 
volved 30  units. 

Deletions  involved  four  sponsors  and 
four  nursery  units.  Three  nurseries  were 
dropped  for  lack  of  sponsor  interest  and 
one  nursery  unit  was  deleted  because  of 
pollution  problems. 

A total  of  129  coldwater  units  released 
1 ,054,715  catchable  salmonids  into  public 
waters  during  the  fiscal  year.  Included  in 
this  total  were  443,25 1 brook  trout;  173, 1 72 
brown  trout;  269,755  rainbow  trout;  1 ,737 
palomino  rainbow  trout;  127,400  steel- 
head  trout;  20, 000  chinook  salmon  and 
19,400  coho  salmon.  Not  included  in  this 
total  were  23, (XX)  three-inch  to  five-inch 
chinook  salmon. 

Trout  and  salmon  were  released  into 
555  waters  within  50  counties.  Sponsors 
stocked  233  Commission  stocked  waters 
and  322  waters  not  stocked  by  the  Com- 
mission. 

Catchable  trout  held  over  to  be  released 
in  the  1987-1988  fiscal  year  included 
60,582  brook  trout;  26,937  brown  trout; 
34,515  rainbow  trout,  369  palomino  trout 
and  8,000  chinook  salmon  for  a total  of 
129,903. 

Three  warmwater  nursery  units  released 
a total  of  2,745  largemouth  bass  ranging 
in  size  from  4 inches  to  14  inches  in  length. 
These  fish  were  released  into  five  waters 
within  three  counties. 

One  coolwater  nursery  unit  again  hatched 


and  released  into  Presque  Isle  Bay,  Erie 
County,  a total  of  670,000  walleye  fry. 

Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services  (FES) 

The  Fisheries  Environmental  Services 
program  has  consistently  progressed  over 
the  years  to  meet  the  continuing  demand 
for  environmental  coordination  required 
by  many  state  and  federal  laws  and  as- 
sociated regulations.  Fisheries  Environ- 
mental Services  staff  maintains  a role  as 
liaison  with  state  and  federal  agencies.  A 
major  function  within  the  program  is  to 
provide  technical  assistance  to  ensure  pro- 
tection of  the  Commonwealth’s  fisheries 
resources  that  could  be  impacted  by  a va- 
riety of  development  activities. 

Other  activities  apart  from  permit  re- 
view include  providing  technical  assis- 
tance and  expert  testimony  in  Fish  Com- 
mission and  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources  legal  proceedings,  public  edu- 
cation on  a variety  of  environmental  top- 
ics, and  technical  assistance  to  qualified 
small  coal  operators  to  identify  environ- 
mentally sensitive  areas. 


Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 


Project  Reviews — Type 

Number 

DER  encroachment  and 

1 ,225 

sewage  applications 

DER  mine  drainage  applica- 

352 

tions 

DER  solid  waste  reviews 

74 

DER  401  reviews 

150 

DER  permits 

768 

DER  NPDES  permit  reviews 

694 

DER  water  allocations 

52 

PennDOT  plan  reviews 

296 

Hydropower  project  reviews 

60 

COE  public  notice  reviews 

351 

Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  re- 

92 

views 

EPA  reviews  and  coordina- 

26 

tion 

DRBC  project  reviews 

23 

SCS  project  peviews 

2 

Meetings  attended  relative  to 

113 

the  above 

Field  investigations  relative 

1 18 

the  above 

Fish  habitat  improvement 

59 

layouts 

Fish  habitat  improvement  in- 

18 

spections 

Fish  habitat  improvement 

20 

supervision 

Stream  surveys 

45 

Educational  programs 

4 

14  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Division  of  Research 

Lake  Erie  research 

The  Lake  Erie  Research  Unit  directed 
its  efforts  to  monitoring,  documenting  and 
guiding  the  rehabilitation  of  the  commer- 
cial yellow  perch  stocks  of  Pennsylvania 
waters.  Using  the  forum  of  the  Great  Lakes 
Fishery  Commission  and  the  task  groups 
of  the  Lake  Erie  Committee,  staff  partic- 
ipated in  the  holistic  management  of  perch 
throughout  Lake  Erie. 

Turning  our  attention  to  Lake  Erie's 
coldwater  fishes,  staff  continued  its  as- 
sessment program  of  the  developing  lake 
trout  population  in  the  eastern  basin,  and 
devised  a study  plan  to  understand  the  rea- 
sons for  substantial  annual  variations  in 
coho  salmon  and  steelhead  returns  to  the 
Lake  Erie  sport  fishery.  As  part  of  a new 
initiative,  unique  coded-wire  tags  (WCTs) 
were  injected  into  the  head  cartilage  of 
juvenile  coho  salmon  and  steelhead  so  that 
staff  could  correlate  the  return  of  mature 
adults  with  the  time  and  size  of  the  fish 
at  planting.  Moreover,  an  angler  log  diary 
was  developed  and  implemented  to  access 
angler  preference  and  the  demands  on  the 
fishery. 

As  a historical  first-time  event.  Lake 
Erie  tributary  waters  were  treated  with  a 
chemical  agent  to  eliminate  the  high  pop- 
ulation density  of  sea  lamprey  larvae.  Post 
treatment  surveillance  activities,  both  in 
the  streams  and  in  the  lake,  have  dem- 
onstrated that  the  work  was  effective  and 
the  abundance  of  mature  sea  lampreys  has 
declined. 

The  research  vessel  Perea  continued  to 
monitor  the  year-class  strength  of  com- 
mercially exploited  fish  stocks,  namely 
yellow  perch  and  walleye.  Data  generated 
by  this  effort  are  used  to  establish  the  total 
allowable  catch  (TAC)  of  these  species  by 
our  Lake  Erie  commercially  licensed  fish- 
ermen. The  Perea  also  served  to  evaluate 
our  lake  trout  restoration  program  for 
Lake  Erie  and  the  status  of  our  forage  fish 
species. 

Permit  coordination 

Fish  culture  stations  that  were  granted 
the  combined  Department  of  Environ- 
mental Resources/National  Pollutant  Dis- 
charge Elimination  System  (DER/NPDES) 
industrial  waste  permits  prior  to  July  1 . 
1986  were  monitored  monthly  in  accord- 
ance with  their  effluent  discharge  (water 
quality)  permit  requirements.  These  fish 
culture  stations  included  Bellefonte,  Ben- 
ner Spring,  Big  Spring,  Cedar  Spring, 
Corry,  Fairview,  Huntsdale.  Linesville, 


Oswayo,  Pleasant  Gap,  Pleasant  Mount. 
Reynoldsdale,  Tionesta,  Tylersville.  Union 
City,  and  Van  Dyke. 

Furthermore,  renewed  or  amended  DER, 
NPDES  water  quality  and/or  sludge  dis- 
posal permits  were  administered  for  the 
Linesville,  Pleasant  Mount,  Tylersville, 
Benner  Spring,  Pleasant  Gap.  Fairview, 
and  Upper  Spring  Creek  complexes. 

Water  quality  laboratory 

During  fiscal  year  1986,  a total  of  1 ,229 
water  and  sludge  samples  were  submitted 
to  the  Benner  Spring  Water  Quality  Lab 
for  analysis.  These  samples  required  4,742 
physical,  chemical,  and  bacteriological 
tests.  At  an  average  commercial  fee  of  $1 1 
per  test  (low  estimate),  the  analyses  would 
cost  approximately  $52,162. 

Susquehanna  River  Anadromous 
Fish  Restoration 

As  part  of  the  Fish  Commission's  con- 
tinuing involvement  with  the  Susquehanna 
River  Anadromous  Fish  Restoration  Com- 
mittee, the  Fish  Culture  Research  Unit 
continued  to  improve  on  culture  tech- 
niques for  American  shad. 

Thirty-four  egg  shipments  were  re- 
ceived during  the  spring  of  1987  for  a total 
of  almost  33  million  eggs.  Average  egg 
viability  was  47.9  percent,  and  percent 
survival  to  stocking  was  70.1  percent. 
American  shad  fry  stocking  for  the  re- 
porting period  totaled  6.9  million  into  the 
Juniata  River,  5.8  million  into  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  below  Conowingo  Dam. 
490.000  into  the  Lehigh  River  and  195,000 
into  the  Schuylkill  River.  Fingerling 
stocking  for  the  reporting  period  included 
36,495  stocked  into  the  Juniata  River,  and 
18,400  reared  at  Benner  Spring  and  stocked 
directly  into  the  turbine  intake  at  Safe  Har- 
bor Dam  (all  in  1986).  In  addition.  191 ,000 
fry  were  provided  to  Delmarva  Ecological 
Lab  for  grow-out  in  ponds  in  Elkton.  MD. 

The  tetracycline  tagging  regime  used  in 
1986  included  the  single  tagging  of  all  fish 
stocked  into  the  Juniata  River;  fish  stocked 
into  the  Susquehanna  River  below  Con- 
owingo Dam  were  double-tagged.  For  the 
1986  releases,  tag  retention  was  found  to 
be  97.4  percent.  Analysis  of  otoliths  from 
emigrating  juvenile  shad  during  the  fall  of 
1976  indicated  that  84  percent  were  of 
hatchery  origin  and  1 6 percent  were  prog- 
eny of  transplanted  adults. 

Research  conducted  at  Van  Dyke  fo- 
cused on  refinement  of  tetracycline  mark- 
ing techniques,  effects  of  egg  disinfection 
on  survival,  egg  and  mortality  enumera- 
tion techniques,  "controlled  quick-re- 


lease" stocking,  and  testing  of  an  alter- 
native dry  feed. 

Amur  pike  program 

During  October  1 986,  3. (XX)  Amur  pike 
fingerlings  that  averaged  10  inches  in  length 
were  released  into  Glendale  Lake,  Cam- 
bria County.  All  fish  received  a left  ventral 
fin  clip  before  release.  In  addition,  ap- 
proximately 150  of  the  most  Amur-like 
fish  were  maintained  in  a raceway  as  fu- 
ture brood  fish. 

Benner  Spring  coolwater  fish 
culture  studies 

Research  efforts  directed  toward  solv- 
ing problems  with  the  culture  of  coolwater 
fishes  included  the  following  studies;  1 ) 
Egg  disinfection  studies  evaluating  the  ef- 
ficacy of  iodine  for  water  hardening  eggs 
from  walleye,  northern  pike,  and  Amer- 
ican shad;  2)  Physiological  tagging  of 
walleye  otoliths  (ear  stones)  using  Stron- 
tium chloride;  3)  Intensive  culture  of  wall- 
eye fry  in  raceways;  4)  Refinement  of  OTC 
(oxytetracycline)  feeding  tag  for  pond  fin- 
gerlings; and  5)  Cooperative  studies  with 
the  Pleasant  Mount  Fish  Culture  Station 
to  retine  culture  technology  characteristics 
of  muskellunge  culture. 

Brood  stock  development 

Selection  programs  have  been  devel- 
oped by  systematically  spawning  single 
pairs  of  brood  fish  and  producing  families 
that  are  then  evaluated  separately.  An  in- 
dividual egg  jar  incubation  unit  has  been 
developed  for  fish  culture  programs,  and 
three  such  units  are  now  functioning  at  the 
following  brood  facilities:  Big  Spring, 
Benner  Spring  and  Oswayo. 

Fish  health  management 

In  1985  the  Fish  Commission  adopted 
a Policy  on  Pish  Health  Management  and 
Disease  Control,  which  included  an  op- 
erating procedure  relative  to  fish  transfer 
and  disease  control.  The  goal  of  the  op- 
erating procedure  is  to  reduce  and  elimi- 
nate serious  fish  diseases.  The  adoption  of 
this  policy  has  resulted  in  increased  in- 
volvement of  the  Pathology  Unit  in  eval- 
uating the  suitability  of  proposed  fish,  tish 
egg,  and  fish  gamete  transfers.  Included 
in  the  disease  control  effort  is  an  intensive 
annual  hatchery  inspection  program  to  de- 
tect the  presence  of  certifiable  fish  patho- 
gens from  14  production  facilities.  The 
results  of  the  inspections  are  then  used  to 
develop  an  accurate  disease  classification 
system. 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  15 


Diagnostic  services 

During  fiscal  year  1986,  a total  of  142 
pathological  investigations  were  con- 
ducted to  assist  management  staff  at  Fish 
Commission  and  cooperative  nursery  pro- 
duction facilities.  A total  of  219  disorders 
were  detected  during  these  investigations. 
Gill  disease,  systemic  viral  and  bacterial 
infections,  and  external  parasites  were  the 
most  commonly  detected  pathological 
problems. 


Divisions  of  Engineering 
and  Architecture  and 
Construction  and 
Maintenance 

The  work  of  the  divisions  of  Engineer- 
ing and  Architecture  and  Construction  and 
Maintenance  is  closely  related  and  there- 
fore described  as  a combined  report.  The 
charge  of  the  Commission’s  development 
and  maintenance  program  is  to  encourage 
and  provide  for  safe  public  use  of  recre- 
ational waters  by  the  development  and 
maintenance  of  access  areas,  lakes,  hatch- 
eries, and  required  administrative  facili- 
ties. Related  activities  include  participa- 
tion in  interagency  efforts  to  improve  and 
restore  tish  migration  and  water  quality, 
and  furnishing  engineering  and  related 
technical  services  to  other  divisions  of  the 
Fish  Commission,  local  governments  and 
sportsmen . 

The  access  area  system  consists  of  over 
250  developed  properties  throughout  the 
state.  The  billowing  are  the  most  notable 
projects  undertaken  during  the  fiscal  year: 

Frankford  Arsenal  Access,  Delaware 
River,  Philadelphia:  Completed  the  ad- 
dition of  a parking  lot  lighting  system  con- 
taining 24  40-foot  high  steel  standards 
supporting  40  high-intensity  lamps,  the  in- 
stallation of  underground  utility  lines  for 
a future  public  comfort  station,  and  the 
planting  of  beautifying  trees,  shrubbery 
and  lawns. 

Cowanshannock  Access,  Allegheny 
River,  Armstrong  County:  Completed 
construction  of  a paved  access  road,  park- 
ing lot,  and  concrete  plank  surfaced  mo- 
torboat launching  ramp.  The  new  access 
was  opened  for  public  use. 

Chillisquaque  Access,  W.  Branch 
Susquehanna  River,  Northumberland 
County:  Completed  construction  of  paved 
access  road  and  concrete  plank  surfaced 
motorboat  launching  ramp.  Parking  lot 
construction  halted  indefinitely  due  to  the 
discovery  of  prehistoric  artifacts.  Other- 

16  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


wise,  the  new  access  was  opened  for  pub- 
lic use. 

Dear  Creek  Access,  Allegheny  River, 
Allegheny  County:  Completed  prereq- 
uisite archaeological  survey  and  permit 
process,  which  was  begun  in  1984,  for 
proposed  expansion  and  improvement  of 
existing  parking  and  motorboat  launching 
facilities. 

Rosston  Access,  Allegheny  River, 
Armstrong  County:  Completed  initial  ar- 
chaeological survey  of  proposed  construc- 
tion site.  Response  pending  to  state  Bu- 
reau of  Historic  Preservation’s  request  for 
further  archaeological  work.  Meanwhile, 
the  access  continues  to  provide  primitive 
parking  and  boat  launching  capabilities. 

Bradys  Bend  Access,  Allegheny  River, 
Armstrong  County:  Completed  engi- 
neering and  began  process  of  securing  state 
and  federal  permits  for  the  proposed  ad- 
dition of  a seasonally  installed  floating  dock 
system  to  be  constructed  in  cooperation 
with  the  Borough  of  Bradys  Bend. 

Proposed  Appletree  Road  Access,  N. 
Branch  Susquehanna  River,  Luzerne 
County  and  E.  Fredericktown  Access, 
Monongahela  River,  Fayette  County: 
Completed  engineering  and  began  process 
of  securing  state  and  federal  permits  for 
proposed  parking  and  motorboat  launch- 
ing facilities.  The  archaeological  surveys 
for  both  sites  were  all  but  approved  by  the 
end  of  the  fiscal  year. 

Walnut  Creek  Access,  Lake  Erie,  Erie 
County:  Began  yearlong  process  of  re- 
newing state  and  federal  permits  to  per- 
form maintenance  dredging  of  the  motor- 
boat  channel  between  Lake  Erie  and  the 
mooring  basin. 

Proposed  new  access  site  develop- 
ment projects:  Loyalsock,  W.  Branch 
Susquehanna  River,  Lycoming  County; 
Fisherman’s  Cove,  Allegheny  River, 
Venango  County;  Milton,  W.  Branch 
Susquehanna  River,  Northumberland 
County;  and  Little  Beaver  Creek,  Ohio 
River,  Beaver  County.  Began  or  contin- 
ued a prerequisite  archaeological  survey 
of  each  site,  the  results  of  which  will  de- 
termine the  plans  for  future  development. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  more 
significant  projects  performed  for  the  Fish 
Commission’s  hatchery  and  administra- 
tive facilities. 

Bellefonte  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Centre  County:  Began  construction  of 
three  half-acre  earthen  ponds  including 
concrete  distribution  boxes  for  shad  cul- 
ture. Restored  deteriorated  concrete  race- 
way walls.  Repaired  lightning-damaged 
primary  voltage  lines,  receptacles  and 


pumps.  Stackhouse  Administration 

Building:  Installed  new  furnace,  reno- 
vated domestic  water  system  and  repaired 
parking  lot.  Constructed  water  system  and 
repaired  parking.  Constructed  an  obser- 
vation tower  for  the  pistol  range  officer 
and  an  obstacle  course  for  trainees. 

Benner  Spring  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Centre  County:  Completed  siding  on 
multipurpose  building.  Designed  and  in- 
stalled interior  lighting  systems  for  the  wet 
lab  and  cool  water  hatch  house  and  im- 
provements to  station’s  exterior  lighting 
including  32  raceway  receptacles  and  47 
ground  fault  breakers.  Corrected  cycling 
problem  with  the  station’s  1 ,500gpm  pump 
by  adding  a variable  speed  drive  and  be- 
gan sizing  proposed  auto-start  electrical 
switching  system.  Began  on  the  road  test- 
ing of  a new,  weight-saving  aluminum 
bed  that  was  developed  in-house  and  in- 
stalled on  a fish  stocking  truck. 

Big  Spring  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Cumberland  County:  Investigation  of  a 
chronic  vibration  problem  in  the  standby 
pump  resulted  in  the  rebuilding  of  it  and 
the  motors  for  both  main  pumps.  Com- 
pleted system  design,  preparation  of  spec- 
ifications and  began  procurement  of  flow 
meter,  controller,  standby  generator, 
transfer  switch  and  associated  equipment 
to  operate  the  main  pumps  automatically. 
Began  expansion  of  existing  main  pump 
building  for  the  new  equipment.  Super- 
vised contract  repair  of  leaking  boiler  and 
began  study  of  ways  to  improve  heating 
system  and  conserve  heat  in  the  admin- 
istration building. 

Corry  Fish  Culture  Station,  Erie 
County:  Completed  installation  of  con- 
duit, transformers,  and  associated  electri- 
cal equipment  to  place  standby  generator 
on-line.  Repaired  lightning-damaged  pump 
starter. 

Fairview  Fish  Culture  Station,  Erie 
County:  Supervised  contract  repair  and 
replacement  of  visitors  center  and  admin- 
istration building  roof.  Repaired  pump 
wiring  and  placed  newly  installed  standby 
generator  on-line. 

Huntsdale  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Cumberland  County:  Regraded  large 
wann water  pond  and  several  smaller  ponds. 
Supervised  contract  repair  and  replace- 
ment of  visitor  center  and  administration 
building  roof.  Repaired  lightning-dam- 
aged electrical  system  for  coolwater  rear- 
ing unit. 

Linesville  Fish  Culture  Station,  Erie 
County:  Completed  architectural  plans, 
specifications,  cost  estimate,  materials  re- 
quisitions and  began  construction  of  a 


dwelling  that  will  enable  the  superintend- 
ent to  reside  at  the  station. 

Oswayo  Fish  Culture  Station,  Potter 
County:  Prepared  procurement  specifi- 
cations to  re-side  hatchery  superintend- 
ent’s dwelling. 

Pleasant  Gap  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Centre  County:  Supervised  contract  re- 
pair and  replacement  of  hatch  house  roof. 
Completed  plans,  specifications,  cost  es- 
timate and  procurement  of  materials  for 
new  spring  enclosure.  Began  study  to  rear- 
range station  electrical  system  to  provide 
standby  generator  backup  for  essential  pump 
and  building  loads  during  emergencies. 
Undertook  design  of  production  waste- 
water  treatment  facility  including  clarifier, 
polishing  ponds  and  outfall.  Also,  de- 
signed sanitary  sewer  line  from  superin- 
tendent’s house,  engineering  building,  hatch 
house,  visitor  center  and  central  ware- 
house to  connection  with  municipal  sewer 
system.  Tylersville  Unit:  Sealed  holes  in 
the  foundation  of  the  foreman’s  residence 
to  keep  out  snakes. 

Pleasant  Mount  Fish  Culture  Sta- 
tion, Wayne  County:  Repaired,  painted 
and  restuccoed  hatch  houses.  Prepared 
specifications  for  ordering  a vertical  tur- 
bine pump  and  electrical  equipment.  Ex- 
tended electrical  system  including  motor 
starters  and  breakers  to  cool  water  research 
raceways.  Began  preliminary  design  of  fish 
viewing  tank  to  be  permanently  exhibited 
in  an  open  pavilion. 

Reynoldsdale  Fish  Culture  Station, 
Bedford  County:  Repaired  masonry  work, 
sidewalk  and  electrical  system  for  hatch- 
ery superintendent’s  dwelling.  Assisted 
superintendent  in  selection  of  security/sur- 
veillance system  components  to  monitor 
water  flows,  power  shutdowns  and  in- 
truders. Supervised  contract  repair  and  re- 
placement of  visitor  center  and  adminis- 
tration building  roof. 

Tionesta  Fish  Culture  Station,  Forest 
County:  Supervised  contract  modification 
of  one  l,500gpm  pump  and  the  biennial 
rehabilitation  to  two,  deep,  water  supply 
wells.  Repaired  electrical  problem  in 
lighting  system  for  the  hatch  house  area. 

Van  Dyke  Fish  Culture  Station,  Jun- 
iata County:  Installed  seasonal  river  water 
supply  pumps  and  made  repairs  to  heating 
electrical  system.  Prepared  drawings  and 
specifications  for  proposed  revisions  to 
plumbing  and  electrical  systems.  Installed 
lights  on  exterior  of  hatch  house  and  a 
fence  around  the  warming  pond. 

Regional  Law  Enforcement  Facili- 
ties: Southeast,  Speedwell  Forge  Lake, 
Lancaster  County:  Supervised  contract 


EXPENDITURES  AND  COMMITMENTS 
CURRENT  EXECUTIVE  AUTHORIZATIONS 
FOR  FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987 


Combined 

Funds 


Charged  to 

Charged  to 
BOAT 

Expenditures 

and 

FISH  FUND 

FUND 

Commitments 

PERSONNEL  SERVICES 

Salaries  and  Wages 

$ 8,452,558 

$1 ,758,559 

$10,211,117 

Employee  Benefits — State  Share 

2,868,359 

566,171 

3,434,530 

PERSONNEL  SERVICES  TO- 
TAL   

$11,320,917 

$2,324,730 

$13,645,647 

OPERATIONAL  EXPENSES 

Fish  Food  

$ 827,328 

$ -0- 

$ 827,328 

Vehicle  Maintenance — Gasoline, 
Oil,  Repairs,  etc 

392,796 

$ 105,329 

$ 498,125 

Printing  and  Advertising 

346,443 

166,401 

512,844 

Utilities  (Electricity,  Heat,  Water) 

661,796 

24,812 

686,608 

Payment  to  Other  State  Agencies 
for  Services  Rendered 

157,914 

33,374 

191,288 

Maintenance  Materials  and  Sup- 
plies for  Construction,  Repairs 
and  Upkeep  

321,610 

57,190 

378,800 

Postage  

123,770 

164,037 

287,807 

Telephone  Expenses  

176,180 

57,773 

233,953 

Travel  Expenses  

171,630 

58,038 

229,668 

Maintenance  and  Rental  of  Of- 
fice, Copying  Tabulating  and 
EDP  Equip  

187,518 

79,503 

267,021 

Contracted  Maintenance  Services 
of  PFC  Buildings  and  Grounds 

174,723 

500,069 

674,792 

Rental  of  Buildings  for  Office  and 
Storage  

135,862 

69,842 

205,704 

Contracted  Specialized  Services 
(Legal,  Consulting,  etc.) 

468,774 

123,573 

592,347 

Purchase  of  Uniforms,  Clothing, 
Footwear 

48,166 

1,782 

49,948 

Special  Conference  Expenses  . 

38,561 

17,219 

55,780 

Laboratory  Supplies,  Drugs  and 
Chemicals 

26,213 

844 

27,057 

Insurance — Liability,  Surety,  Fi- 
delity   

80,713 

29,693 

110,406 

Other  Supplies  (Office,  Educa- 
tional etc.)  and  Services  

254,378 

56,200 

310,578 

OPERATIONAL  EXPENSES 
TOTAL  

$ 4,594,375 

$1,545,679 

$ 6,140,054 

January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


construction  of  pole-type  storage  building; 
Southcentral,  Huntsdale,  Cumberland 
County:  Supervised  contract  construction 
of  pole-type  storage  building.  Southwest, 
Somerset  Lake,  Somerset  County:  Co- 
ordinated Department  of  Labor  and  In- 
dustry inspection  of  new  multi-purpose 
building.  Began  preliminary  design  of 
building  alterations  to  heat  and  ventilate 
basement  shop  areas;  and.  Northcentral, 
Lamar,  Clinton  County:  Installed  new 
siding  on  office  building,  resurfaced  park- 
ing lot  and  installed  new  electrical  service 
entrance. 

Pennsylvania  Conservation  Corps 
(PCC)  Program:  By  means  of  this  Com- 
monwealth program  the  Fish  Commission 
furnished  on-the-job  training  to  15  eco- 
nomically disadvantaged  youth,  ages  18 
to  24.  The  PCC  trainees  were  given  hands- 
on  work  experience  by  skilled  construc- 
tion trades  personnel.  The  program  was 
conducted  at  five  separate  locations: 
Frankford  Arsenal  Access,  Philadelphia; 
Fairview  Fish  Culture  Station,  Walnut 
Creek  Access  Area,  and  Godfrey  Run 
Salmon  Station,  all  in  Erie  County;  and 
Bellefonte  Fish  Culture  Station,  Centre 
County. 

Some  of  the  work  accomplished  con- 
sisted of:  the  installation  of  security  fenc- 
ing, safety  railing,  boat  docks,  under- 
ground utility  lines,  light  standards,  traffic 
signs,  brick  walkways  and  protective  ri- 
prap; the  demolition  of  buildings;  clearing 
and  landscaping  including  the  planting  of 
trees,  shrubs  and  seeded  areas;  the  con- 
struction of  a generator  building,  raceway 
covers,  a diversion  dam,  fish  passageways 
and  concrete  bulkheads  including  form 
work;  and  general  building,  road  and  park- 
ing lot  renovation. 

In  compliance  with  the  National  Dam 
Safety  Act,  annual  inspections  were  com- 
pleted and  reported  for  the  29  man-made 
lakes  the  Fish  Commission  controls.  Re- 


Fish  and  Wildlife 
Restoration  (D-J) 

"D-J  Maintenance  (F-30-D-22) 

"Fisheries  Management  Project 
(F-57-R-10) 

"Fisheries  Technical  Guidance 
(F-61-T-8) 

"Lake  Erie  Anadromous  Salmomds 
(F-62-R-2) 

‘Aquatic  Resources  Education 
Planning  (F-65-E-1) 

'Delaware  River  Striped  Bass 
Restoration  (F-66-R-1) 

Commercial  Fish  Act  (NMFS) 

"Yellow  Perch  Assessment — Lake  Erie  (to 
extend  current  segment  to  4/30/88 — 
3-397-R-2) 


Fishery  Conservation  and 

Management  Act  of  1976  NMFS) 

"Mid-Atlantic  Fishery  Management 
Council  (MAFMC-87-5) 

Surface  Mining  Control  and 

Reclamation  Act  of  1977  (OSM) 

"Small  Operator's  Assistance 
(SOAP)  Program  (ME-86059) 

U.S.  Department  of  Transportation 

(U.S.  Coast  Guard— Boating  Safety) 

‘Boating  Safety  Program  (Federal 
Fiscal  Year  1987—17.01.42 

GRAND  TOTALS 

pairs  were  made  to  control  tower  or  other 
outlet  structures  at  Hunters  Lake,  Sullivan 
County;  Leaser  Take,  Lehigh  County;  and 
Kahle  Lake,  Clarion  County.  Contract 
specifications  were  prepared  for  explora- 
tory core  drilling  of  Hereford  Manor  Lakes, 
Beaver  County.  A contract  was  let  for  the 
test  boring  of  Leaser  Lake  Dam,  Lehigh 
County.  Continued  engineering  design  of 
a new  embankment  for  Ford  Lake,  Lack- 
awanna County.  Began  process  of  secur- 
ing permits  to  install  a new  culvert  in  the 
service  road  for  Stmble  Lake,  and  com- 
pleted process  of  securing  permits  to  breach 
the  former  Icedale  Lake  Dam,  Chester 
County. 

The  maintenance  of  the  Commission’s 
statewide  system  of  public  use  facilities, 
along  with  various  operational  units,  is 
performed  by  five  regionally  headquar- 
tered maintenance  crews.  This  year,  as  in 
the  past,  they  also  assisted  in  the  construc- 
tion of  new  access  facilities,  repairing 
hatchery  ponds,  stocking  trout,  upkeep  of 
hatchery  and  regional  law  enforcement 
buildings  and  grounds,  lake  weed  control, 
and  drawdown  of  lakes  for  fish  manage- 
ment purposes. 

The  year  ended  with  many  things  un- 
done. Due  to  constrained  resources,  choices 
had  to  be  made.  For  the  most  part,  the 
work  came  in  many  diverse,  small  pack- 


Planned  Anticipated 


Cost 

$ 738,000 
2,362,356 

Reimbursement 

$ 553,500 
1 ,771 ,767 

510,556 

382,917 

672,664 

504,498 

88,950 

66,713 

35,000 

26,250 

$4,407,526 

$3,305,645 

$ 98,716 

$ 74,037 

$ 98,716 

$ 74,037 

Planned 

Cost 

$ 5,370 

Anticipated 

Reimbursement 

$ 5,370 

$ 5,370 

$ 5,370 

$ 15,000 

$ 15,000 

$ 15,000 

$ 15,000 

$ 680,880 

$ 680,880 

$ 680,880 

$5,207,492 

$ 680,880 

$4,080,932 

ages.  There 

was  also  the  usual 

hundred  emergencies. 

Next  year’s  tasks  are  already  lining  up. 
They  make  a long  list  of  interior  reno- 
vation work  involving  space  planning  and 
interior  design,  and  heavy  construction 
consisting  of  facility  modification  and  life 
extension  projects.  The  dedicated  work 
force  of  the  engineering,  construction  and 
maintenance  divisions  will  continue  to  do 
its  job  with  an  efficiency  and  excellency 
that  cannot  be  bought  on  the  outside. 


Bureau  of 

Administrative  Services 

The  Bureau  of  Administrative  Services 
provides  issuance  of  fishing  licenses,  pur- 
chasing and  procurement  of  goods  and  ser- 
vices, payroll  and  personnel,  fiscal  plan- 
ning, budget  preparations,  automotive  fleet 
services,  record  keeping,  computer  ser- 
vices, issuance  of  special  permits  and  li- 
censes, warehousing,  duplicating  and 
mailroom  services,  federal  aid  coordina- 
tion, inventory  record  keeping,  training, 
messenger  services  and  other  activities  and 
functions  needed  in  the  everyday  opera- 
tions of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Com- 
mission. 


1 8 January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Federal  Aid  Section 

The  section  on  federal  aid  coordination 
prepared  and  submitted  formal  documen- 
tation for  federal  assistance  on  three  new 
projects*  and  seven  new  project  segments 
to  existing  projects**  during  the  fiscal  year 
that  ended  June  30,  1987.  Total  reim- 
bursements from  all  federal  program 
projects  were  $3,281,106,  a 31  percent 
increase  over  fiscal  year  1985-86  reim- 
bursements, which  were  $2,508,944. 
Reimbursements  were  distributed  as  fol- 
lows: 

Fish  Fund  $2,445,179  +37  percent 
Boat  Fund  835,928  + 15  percent 
Total  $3,281,107  +31  percent 

The  principal  sources  of  this  fiscal  year’s 
increased  reimbursements,  of  $772,162, 
were  mainly  due  to  increased  Dingell- 
Johnson  Act  funds,  through  its  Wallop- 
Breaux  amendment  ( + $867,693).  This 
and  other  increases  more  than  offset 
$108,555  in  revenue  decreases  in  other 
federal  programs. 

Anticipated  future  reimbursements  in- 
creased by  $933,075,  or  30  percent  more 
than  similar  projections  in  the  1985-86 
fiscal  year. 

Fishing  License  Section 

This  section  appoints  and  supervises 
1 ,700  issuing  agents,  which  include  county 
treasurers  and  private  businesses  in  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey  and  Ohio.  Monthly 
reports  are  received  and  audited  with  rev- 
enue deposited  in  the  Fish  Fund  by  the 
state  treasurer. 


Fishing  licenses  sold  in 
eluded: 

1986-1987  in- 

Resident  

....  961,545 

Non-Resident  

57,951 

Senior  

44,094 

Tourist  

15,797 

Senior-Lifetime  

12,182 

Free  

1,662 

Total 

1,093,231 

Personnel  Section 

The  Personnel  Section  develops  and 
implements  programs  for  Fish  Commis- 
sion employees,  including  recruitment  and 
selection,  classification  and  pay,  em- 
ployee benefits,  personnel  transactions, 
training,  affirmative  action,  and  labor  re- 
lations. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  high- 
lights of  the  activities  of  the  Personnel 
Section  during  the  1986-87  fiscal  year: 

• Recruitment  and  selection.  In  re- 
sponse to  a statewide  recruitment  cam- 
paign over  1,500  applicants  competed 


in  the  entrance  examination  for  water- 
ways conservation  officer.  Graduates 
from  this  class  will  be  placed  into  vacant 
district  slots  in  1988.  In  addition,  the 
Personnel  Section  assisted  the  Commis- 
sioners in  conducting  a nationwide  re- 
cruitment and  selection  campaign  to  re- 
place Executive  Director  Ralph  W. 
Abele,  who  retired. 

• Transactions.  About  3,050  personnel 
transactions  were  processed  during  the 
1986-87  fiscal  year.  The  transactions  unit 
also  spearheaded  a major  conversion  of 
the  computerized  system  used  to  process 
personnel  transactions. 

• Employee  benefits.  The  employee 
benefits  unit,  in  concert  with  the  graphic 
artist  in  the  Bureau  of  Education  and 
Information,  produced  a supervisor’s 
guide  for  managing  and  controlling  sick 
leave.  During  the  1986-87  fiscal  year, 
the  Fish  Commission  continued  its  lead- 
ership role  among  state  agencies  in  re- 
ducing the  use  of  sick  leave. 

• Organization  and  staffing.  The  Per- 
sonnel Section  assisted  the  executive  di- 
rector in  preparing  a plan  for  reorgan- 
izing the  agency  to  improve  further  the 


responsiveness  and  services  to  the  an- 
glers and  boaters  of  Pennsylvania. 

Data  Processing  Section 

Now  in  its  fourth  year  of  use,  the  Ho- 
neywell System  now  supports  21  input 
stations.  From  these  stations  the  user  can 
access  word  processing  documents  as  well 
as  use  data  entry  applications.  Additional 
areas  now  serviced  by  our  computer  in- 
clude Law  Enforcement  and  Waterways 
bureau  personnel.  Office  of  Administra- 
tion and  Fleet  Automotive  Section.  The 
system  has  enabled  us  to  ship  over  one 
million  fishing  licenses  in  four  days. 

The  Bureau  of  Law  Enforcement  is  in- 
putting its  repeater  locations  and  the  per- 
sons who  operate  or  possess  radios.  They 
will  now  track  serial  numbers,  watts,  types, 
districts,  regions  and  frequencies.  The 
system  also  locates  those  radios  still  in 
inventory. 

The  Bureau  of  Waterways  has  recently 
used  the  computer  to  locate  lost  motor  boat 
renewal  notices.  This  was  done  with  a ZIP 
code  comparison  by  the  regions  not  re- 
porting renewals. 

In  addition,  we  have  automated  live  bait 


EXPENDITURES  AND  COMMITMENTS 
CURRENT  EXECUTIVE  AUTHORIZATIONS 
FOR  FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987  Combined 

Funds 


Charged  to 

Charged  to 
BOAT 

Expenditures 

and 

FISH  FUND 

FUND 

Commitments 

FIXED  ASSETS 
(Capital  Improvements) 

Purchase  of  Automobiles,  Trucks, 
and  Watercraft 

$ 485,491 

$ 135,214 

$ 620,705 

Access  Area  Development  and 
Improvements  to  Lakes  and 
Streams 

145,181 

83,606 

228,787 

Building  Improvements  to  New 
and  Existing  Structures  

186,297 

22,843 

209,140 

Machinery  and  Equipment  

214,008 

16,418 

230,426 

Radio  Equipment  Purchases  . . 

79,732 

54,648 

134,380 

Purchases  of  EDP  Equipment  . 

183,518 

73,109 

256,627 

Office  Equipment,  Furniture  and 
Furnishings 

101,533 

24,168 

125,701 

Consideration  Costs  of  Land, 
Lakes  and  Streams  Acquired 

17,174 

18,689 

35,863 

FIXED  ASSETS  TOTAL  

1,412,934 

428,695 

1,841,629 

GRANTS  AND  SUBSIDIES  ... 

17,614 

896 

18,510 

Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
General  Operations  Total  . . . 

17,345,840 

4,300,000 

21 ,645,840 

Department  of  General  Ser- 
vices— General  State  Authority 
Rentals  

62,133 

1,985 

64,118 

TOTAL  EXPENDITURES  AND 
COMMITMENTS 

$17,407,973 

$4,301,985 

$21,709,958 

January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


dealer,  mine  drainage,  artificial  propaga- 
tion and  scientific  collector  permits,  reg- 
ulated fishing  lakes,  as  well  as  resident 
and  non-resident  transportation  of  live  bait 
and  baitfish. 

The  computer  network  to  the  six  re- 
gional offices  to  our  computer  here  in  the 
Harrisburg  office  is  under  way.  The  first 
testing  of  this  network  has  just  been  com- 
pleted with  no  major  problems  to  report. 
The  next  test  will  be  using  the  telephone 
lines  between  the  systems.  All  that  will 
be  needed  after  this  testing  is  to  put  the 
network  together. 

Purchasing  Section 

The  Purchasing  Section  is  responsible 


for  the  procurement  of  commodities  and 
services  that  affect  the  staff  located  in  the 
Harrisburg  office  and  field  stations.  All 
Commission  printing  is  also  done  through 
this  office.  The  section  maintains  and  pro- 
cesses invoices,  writes  specifications,  so- 
licits bids  and  oversees  bid  openings. 

The  first  step  has  been  taken  in  com- 
puterizing one  of  the  office  functions.  The 
Purchase  Requisition  Subsystem  is  now  in 
effect  and  has  been  since  October  1986. 
We  are  now  directly  linked  to  CM1C,  DGS 
and  the  Comptroller’s  Office  via  the  ter- 
minal. The  requests  that  are  entered  con- 
sist of  all  orders  over  $5, (XX)  and  all  print- 
ing orders.  In  the  future,  other  documents 
will  be  approved  for  entry  such  as  con- 


tracts and  field  limited  purchase  orders. 

This  system  is  working  well.  The  track- 
ing and  retrieval  of  information  is  much 
faster  and  easier. 

Real  Estate  Section 

The  Real  Estate  Section  acquires  land 
for  fishing  and  boating  access  to  the  public 
waters  of  Pennsylvania. 

Land  purchase  funds  have  been  greatly 
reduced  in  recent  years,  resulting  in  greater 
reliance  on  interagency  transfers,  coop- 
erative agreements,  and  donations  of  land. 

Some  of  the  1986-1987  activities  of  the 
Real  Estate  Section  follow: 

Land  Purchase.  East  Fredericktown, 
Fayette  County  (access  to  Monongahela 
River);  Honey  Pot  Primitive  Rest  Stop  Ac- 
cess, Luzerne  County  (Susquehanna  River, 
North  Branch);  Union  Access,  Luzerne 
County  (access  to  Susquehanna  River, 
North  Branch);  New  Brighton  Access, 
Beaver  County  (additional  land,  access  to 
Beaver  River). 

Cooperative  agreements.  Watson- 
town  Access,  Northumberland  County 
(access  to  Susquehanna  River,  West 
Branch);  Parker  City  Access,  Armstrong 
County  (access  to  Allegheny  River). 

Properties  under  option.  One  each  in 
Northampton,  Clinton  and  Columbia 
counties. 

Miscellaneous  agreements  com- 
pleted. 26. 

Offices  Section 

This  section  is  responsible  for  all  cler- 
ical supplies  for  the  Harrisburg  headquar- 
ters and  field  installations,  ordering  and 
distribution  of  paper  materials,  standard 
forms  and  all  office  duplicating.  The  war- 
ehousing and  messenger  services  are  a part 
of  this  section  in  addition  to  mail  distri- 
bution. 

Automotive  and 
Telecommunications 

Automotive.  Forty-three  vehicles  were 
purchased  this  year  to  replace  older  ve- 
hicles. Sixty-four  old  vehicles  were  taken 
to  auction.  Lower  gasoline  prices  have 
helped  to  keep  fleet  operating  costs  down. 
In  addition,  we  have  purchased  several 
diesel  trucks  to  reduce  fuel  costs. 

Telecommunications.  The  Commis- 
sion has  purchased  telephone  systems  at 
our  law  enforcement  office  and  two  fish 
culture  stations.  Where  possible,  tele- 
phones have  been  purchased  to  reduce  fu- 
ture costs. 

Automated  technology.  This  is  the  fifth 
year  the  Commission  has  operated  its  own 


FISH  FUND 

ACTUAL  EXPENDITURES  AND  COMMITMENTS  BY  DIVISION 
CURRENT  EXECUTIVE  AUTHORIZATION 
FOR  THE  FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987 


Executive  Director $ 198,899 

Information  and  Education  802,277 

Bureau  of  Administrative  Services  1 ,389,934 

Bureau  of  Fisheries  & Engineering  Administration  468,500 

Fisheries  Administration  1 50,008 

Fisheries  Management  Section 1,124,036 

Fisheries  Research  Section  585,709 

Warmwater/Coolwater  Propagation  2,175,274 

Trout  Propagation 4,540,056 

Fisheries  Environmental  Services  Section  299,461 

Architecture  & Engineering  Administration  129,283 

Engineering  Section 95,582 

Architecture  Section  104,666 

Survey  Section  52,508 

Dam  Safety  Section 76,357 

Construction  & Maintenance  Administration 116,103 

Construction  Section  804,854 

Property  Maintenance  Section 621,448 

Law  Enforcement  3,286,656 

Attorney  General 21,404 

Comptroller 302,825 

Fish  Fund  General  Operations  Total  $17,345,840 

Department  of  General  Services— General  State  Authority  Rentals  62,133 


Total  Expenditures  and  Commitments $17,407,973 


ACTUAL  REVENUE  DEPOSITED  IN  FISH  FUND 
FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987 


LICENSES  AND  FEES 

Resident  Fishing— Regular  $11,502,605 

Resident  Fishing — Senior 86,652 

Lifetime  Fishing— Senior  Residents 121,973 

Non-Resident  Fishing  1,148,871 

Tourist  Fishing 234,308 

PA  League  of  Angling  Youth  8,899 

Fee-Fishing  Lake  13,805 

Miscellaneous  Permits 14,533 

Commercial  Hatchery  7,035 

Scientific  Collectors'  Permits  4,250 

Lake  Erie  2,600 

Technical  Service-Non-Gov.  & Indiv  50 

H.R.  Stackhouse  Facilities  User  $ 3,780 

Total  Licenses  and  Fees 13,149,361 


20  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Office  Information  Systems.  Many  of  the 
former  manual  tasks  have  been  auto- 
mated. Most  correspondence  is  now  done 
via  word  processing.  The  fishing  licenses, 
boat  registrations,  fish  stocking  records, 
and  schedules  have  been  automated. 

Miscellaneous  Licenses  and 
Permits  Section 


The  Miscellaneous  Licenses  and  Permit 
Section  reviewed,  distributed  and  issued 
the  following  permits: 


Mine  drainage 

313 

Regulated  fishing  lake 

234 

Artificial  propagating 

152 

Live  bait  dealer 

901 

Live  fish  dealer 

22 

Resident  transportation 

90 

Non-resident  dealer 

17 

Net  permits 

72 

Drawdown  permits 

151 

Dynamite  permits 

28 

Scientific  collector’s  permits 

155 

Total 

2,135 

Sand  and  gravel  royalties 

During  fiscal  year  1986-87,  the  Penn- 
sylvania Fish  Commission  received 
$243,047  in  royalty  payments  from  dredg- 
ing companies  operating  on  Common- 
wealth waters.  The  amount  represents  an 
increase  of  $20,609  in  receipts  collected 
in  fiscal  year  1985-86. 

Since  the  passage  of  Act  225,  approved 
July  31,  1970,  $4,138,886  has  been  re- 
ceived in  revenue  from  this  category  of 
income  by  the  Fish  Commission. 

The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  in 
compliance  with  federal  and  state  laws,  is 
committed  to  the  policy  that  all  persons 
shall  have  equal  access  to  its  facilities, 
programs,  and  employment  without  re- 
gard to  race,  religion,  sex,  national  origin, 
handicap,  age,  or  status  as  a disabled  or 
Vietnam-era  veteran.  Interested  parties 
should  direct  inquiries  on  employment  to 
the  Affirmative  Action  Officer,  Allison  J. 
Mayhew,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania  17105-1673,  and  direct  in- 
quiries concerning  programs  and  facilities 
to  K.  Ronald  Weis,  450  Robinson  Lane, 
Bellefonte,  Pennsylvania  16823. 


FINES  AND  PENALTIES 

Fish  Law  Fines  230,965 

MISCELLANEOUS  REVENUE 

Interest  on  Securities  & Deposits  550,320 

Income  from  Sand  & Gravel  Dredging  243,047 

Miscellaneous  Revenue  119,549 

Miscellaneous  Revenue-License  Div  -0- 

Reimbursement  of  Van  Dyke  Shad  Station  Operational  Costs 123,207 

Refund  of  Expenditures  Not  Crediting  an  Appropriation  1 ,479 

Sale  of  Pennsylvania  Angler  247,203 

Restitution  for  Fish  Killed  222,052 

Strs  Inventory  Receipts — Deputy  Waterways  Patrolmen  7,573 

Rental  of  Fish  Commission  Property  20,528 

Sale  of  Patches 112 

Sale  of  Recreational  Items 10,912 

Sale  of  Publications  27,175 

Sale  of  Unserviceable  Property 450 

Sale  of  Confiscated  Property 11 

Royalty  Payments 1 ,343 

In-Lieu-of  Payments  for  Fishways  75,000 

Total  Miscellaneous  Revenue  1,649,961 

TOTAL  NONTAX  REVENUE  15,030,287 

AUGMENTATIONS 

Federal  Aid 2,445,179 

Sale  of  Vehicles  78,475 

Reimbursement — PA  Conservation  Corp 235,953 


Total  Augmentations  2,759,607 

GRAND  TOTAL  ALL  REVENUE  IN  FISH  FUND  $17,789,894 


FISH  FUND 

STATEMENT  OF  UNRESERVED  FUND  BALANCE 
JUNE  30,  1987 


Fund  Balance — Unreserved/Undesignated,  June  30,  1986  $ 9,476,927 

Add:  Actual  Cash  Receipts,  July  1,  1986  through  June  30,  1987  $17,789,894 

Revenue  earned  as  of  6/30/86  and  deposited  in  1986-87  ...  (1 ,068,194) 


Revenue  earned  but  not  received  as  of  6/30/87 


Licenses  & Fees  $ 90,987 

Fines  and  Penalties 4,349 

Miscellaneous  Revenue  3,671 

Interest  on  Short  Term  Investments  60,862 

Due  from  Federal  Gov't  (Grants)  353,978 


Total  Revenue  accrued  but  not  received  as  of  6/30/87  513,847 


Total  Revenue  Earned  During  1986-87  17,235,547 

Lapses  from  prior  year  appropriations  502,661 

Unreserved-Undesignated  Fund  Balance  

Before  Commitments  and  Expenditures  $27,215,135 

Deduct:  Current  Year  Expenditures  and  Commitments  posted 

from  7/1/86  through  6/30/87  17,407,973 


Comptroller's  Report 

The  fiscal  year  1986-87  Balance  Sheets 
and  Statements  of  Unreserved  Fund  Bal- 
ance for  the  Fish  and  Boat  Funds  were 
prepared  in  accordance  with  General  Ac- 
cepted Accounting  Principles  (GAAP). 
Total  fixed  assets  for  the  Fish  and  Boat 
Funds  combined  as  of  June  30,  1987,  were 


Reversal  of  Commitment  and  Expenditure  accrual  for 

1985-1986  (337,027) 

Expenditure  Accruals  as  of  6/30/87  1 ,045,060 

Commitments  liquidated  against  6/30/87  expenditure 

accruals  (739,518) 

Total  Expenditures  and  Commitments  incurred  for  fiscal  year 

1986-87  17,376,488 

Fund  Balance-Unreserved/Undesignated,  6/30/87  $ 9,838,647 


Januar y / 988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


$16,591,579.  Fixed  assets  are  reported  at 
cost  or  estimated  historical  cost;  no  de- 
preciation is  provided.  Donated  fixed  as- 
sets are  recorded  at  fair  market  value  at 
the  time  of  donation.  A schedule  of  the 
combined  fixed  assets  is  included  with  this 
year's  statements. 

All  other  statements  included  with  this 
report  were  prepared  on  a cash  basis  of 
accounting  combined  with  an  encum- 


brance budgetary  system  and  as  such  are 
consistent  with  that  of  the  previous  year. 

Fish  Fund 

Total  revenue  deposited  in  the  Fish  Fund 
during  the  1986-87  fiscal  year  was 
$17,789,894,  an  increase  of  $508,288  or 
3 percent  over  actual  deposits  in  the  1 985— 
86  fiscal  year.  Federal  aid  reimbursements 
were  up  $664,786  due  to  the  Wallop- 


Breaux  amendment  to  the  Dingle-Johnson 
Act.  Resident  and  non-resident  fishing  li- 
cense revenue  increased  $129,985  over  last 
year's  actual  receipts. 

Miscellaneous  revenue  increased 
$103,000  from  last  year  due  to  receiving 
the  reimbursement  from  the  Department 
of  Environmental  Resources  for  salary  and 
vehicle  expenditures  incurred  by  the  Fish 
Commission  for  DER  for  fiscal  years  1 985— 
86  and  1986-87. 

In  addition,  revenue  from  restitution  for 
fish  killed  and  sale  of  vehicles  increased 
$49,226  and  $47,985  respectively.  Off- 
setting these  increases  were  decreases  in 
investment  income  of  $181,024,  fish  law 
fines  of  $1 19,477,  Pennsylvania  Conser- 
vation Corps  reimbursements  of  $85,395, 
and  reimbursement  of  Van  Dyke  Shad 
Station  operation  of  $79,686. 

Actual  expenditures  and  commitments 
for  the  current  year  Fish  Fund  executive 
authorization  totaled  $17,407,973,  an  in- 
crease of  $70,403  over  the  fiscal  year  1 985— 
86  total.  Significant  increases  were  re- 
ported for  fish  food  purchases,  up  $ 1 30,093; 
contracted  maintenance,  up  $81,000;  and 
specialized  services,  up  $77, (XX).  Offset- 
ting these  increases  were  decreases  in  the 
following:  state  share  retirement  benefits, 
down  $323,667  due  to  the  retirement  per- 
centage decreasing  from  17.61  percent  in 
fiscal  year  1985-86  to  12.78  percent  in 
fiscal  year  1986-87;  motorized  equipment 
supplies,  down  $131,000;  maintenance 
material  and  supplies,  down  $82,200;  and 
building  and  structure  improvements,  down 
$55,312. 

The  June  30,  1987,  unreserved/unde- 
signated fund  balance  reported  on  a GAAP 
basis  was  $9,838,647,  a $361,720  or  4 
percent  increase  from  last  year’s  balance. 

Boat  Fund 

Actual  revenue  deposited  in  the  Boat 
Fund  for  the  fiscal  year  1986-87  was 
$3,841,182,  a $254,350  or  7 percent  in- 
crease over  last  year's  total.  Federal  aid 
reimbursement  revenue  increased 
$153,190.  or  99  percent  from  fiscal  year 
1985-86.  This  was  the  first  year  revenues 
were  deposited  to  the  Boat  Fund  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  Dingle-Johnson  Act.  In 
addition,  increased  revenue  was  reported 
for  licenses  and  fees,  up  $109,423,  or  9 
percent,  and  motor  license  and  liquid  fuel 
tax,  up  $95,1 17,  or  8 percent.  Offsetting 
these  increases  were  decreases  in  interest 
on  securities,  down  $49,901,  or  16  per- 
cent and  U.  S.  Coast  Guard  grants,  down 
$45,813,  or  6 percent. 


BOAT  FUND 

ACTUAL  EXPENDITURES  AND  COMMITMENTS  BY  DIVISION 


CURRENT  EXECUTIVE  AUTHORIZATION 
IN  THE  FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987 

Executive  Director $ 34,295 

Information  and  Education  261,621 

Bureau  of  Administrative  Services  318,621 

Bureau  of  Fisheries  & Engineering  Administration  98,826 

Architecture  & Engineering  Administration  46,430 

Engineering  Section  34,456 

Architecture  Section  41 ,994 

Survey  Section 22,051 

Dam  Safety  Section  41,597 

Construction  & Maintenance  Administration  50,553 

Construction  Section  357,026 

Property  Maintenance  Section 440,404 

Waterways  797,885 

Law  Enforcement  1 ,672,940 

Attorney  General  3,105 

Comptroller 78,196 

Boat  Fund  General  Operations  Total  $4,300,000 

Department  of  General  Services — General  State  Authority  Rentals  1,985 

Total  Expenditures  and  Commitments  $4,301,985 


ACTUAL  REVENUES  DEPOSITED  IN  BOAT  FUND 


FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  JUNE  30,  1987 
LICENSES  AND  FEES 

Motorboat  Registration $1,261,411 

Boat  Mooring  Permits 22,616 

Boat  Capacity  Plate  Fees  4,280 

Total  Licenses  and  Fees  1,288,307 

FINES  AND  PENALTIES 

Motorboat  Fines  89,723 

MISCELLANEOUS  REVENUE 

Reimbursement  from  Motor  License  and  Liquid  Fuels  Tax  Funds  . . . 1,306,877 

Interest  on  Securities  266,363 

Miscellaneous  Revenue-Fish  Commission  10,133 

Sale  of  Boat  PA  Subscriptions 24,626 

Total  Miscellaneous  Revenue  1,607,999 

TOTAL  NONTAX  REVENUE  2,986,029 

AUGMENTATIONS 

Federal  Reimbursement  for  Land  Acquisition  & Development — NPS  155,048 

Sale  of  Vehicles 19,225 

U.S.  Coast  Guard  Grant  for  Safety 680,880 


Total  Augmentations 855,153 

GRAND  TOTAL  ALL  REVENUE  IN  BOAT  FUND  $3,841,182 


22  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Actual  expenditures  and  commitments 
for  the  current  year  executive  authoriza- 
tion totaled  $4,302,(X)(),  which  equaled 
that  of  last  year.  Increases  in  expenditures 
were  reported  for  contracted  maintenance, 
up  $39,570;  travel  expense,  up  $30,593; 
and  postage,  up  $22,995.  Offsetting  the 
increases  were  decreases  in  watercraft  pur- 
chases, down  $62,205,  and  vehicle  main- 
tenance, down  $29,885. 

The  June  30,  1987,  unreserved/unde- 
signated fund  balance  reported  on  a GAAP 
basis  was  $4,920,039,  a $10,667  increase 
from  a year  ago. 


FISH  FUND  REVENUE 

JULY  1,  1986  TO  JUNE  30.  1987 


□ 


Resident  Fishing  Licenses  (includes  Senior  Licenses) 

$11,711,230 

Non-Resident,  Tourist  and  other  Licenses  & Fees 

$1,438,131 

Federal  and  Augmenting  Revenue 
$2,759,607 
Interest  Income 
$550,320 
Other  Revenue 
$285,164 

Sale  of  Publications 
$274,378 
Fish  Law  Fines 
$230,965 

Sand  and  Gravel  Dredging 
$243,047 

Restitution  & Contributions 
$222,052 

In-Lieu  Payments  of  Fishways 
$75,000 


TOTAL 

$17,789,894 


BOAT  FUND  REVENUE 

JULY  1,  1986  TO  JUNE  30,  1987 


Motorboat  Registrations  & Fees 
$1,288,307 

Transfer  from  Motor  License  Fund 
$1,306,877 


Federal  and  Augmenting  Revenue 


$855,153 

Interest  Income 
$266,363 

Other  Revenue 
$10,133 

Sale  of  Boat  PA 

$24,626 

Motorboat  Fines 
$89,723 


TOTAL 

$3,841,182 


BOAT  FUND 

STATEMENT  OF  UNRESERVED  FUND  BALANCE 
JUNE  30,  1987 


Fund  Balance — Unreserved/Undesignated,  June  30,  1986  $4,909,372 

Add:  Actual  Cash  Receipts,  July  1,  1986 

through  June  30,  1987  $3,841,182 

Revenue  earned  as  of  6/30/86  and 

deposited  in  1 986-87  ( 644,089) 

Revenue  earned  but  not  received  as  of  6/30/87 


Fines  and  Penalties  $ 2,260 

Interest  on  Short  Term  Investments  23,237 

Due  from  other  Funds 653,439 

Due  from  Federal  Gov't  (Grants)  52,778 

Total  Revenue  accrued  but  not 

received  as  of  6/30/87  731 ,714 

Total  Revenue  Earned  During  1986-87  3,928,807 

Lapses  from  prior  year  appropriations  383,845 

Unreserved-Undesignated  Fund  Balance  

Before  Commitments  and  Expenditures $9,222,024 

Deduct:  Current  Year  Expenditures  and  Commitments  posted  from 

7/1/86  through  6/30/87  4,301,985 

Fund  Balance-Unreserved/Undesignated,  6/30/87  $4,920,039 


FISH  COMMISSION 
BALANCE  SHEET 
JUNE  30,  1987 


ASSETS 

Cash  with  Treasurer  

Cash  in  Transit 

Cash — Advancement  Accounts  

Temporary  Investments  

Accrued  Interest  Receivable  

Due  from  Other  Commonwealth  Funds  

Grants  Receivable — Federal  Government 

Total  Assets  

FISH  FUND 

$ 2,491 

99,007 
175,467 
12,122,000 
60,862 
-0- 

353,978 

$12,813,805 

BOAT 

FUND 

$ 2,325 

2,260 
-0- 

4,186,000 

23,237 

653,439 

52,778 

$4,920,039 

LIABILITIES 

Vouchers  Payable  

Account  Payable  and  Accrued  Liabilities 

Due  to  Other  Commonwealth  Funds  

Due  to  Other  Government 

Total  Liabilities 

$ 69,378 

834,165 
433,247 
19,584 

$ 1,356,374 

$ -0- 

-0- 
-0- 
-0- 

$ -0- 

FUND  EQUITY 

Reserved  for  Current  Encumbrances  

Fund  Balance — Unreserved/Undesignated  

Total  Reserves  and  Fund  Balance  

Total  Liabilities  and  Fund  Equity 

$ 1,618,784 
* 9,838,647 

$11,457,431 

$12,813,805 

$ -0- 
$4,920,039 

$4,920,039 

$4,920,039 

PENNSYLVANIA  FISH  COMMISSION 
SCHEDULE  OF  FIXED  ASSETS 
FISH  & BOAT  FUNDS  COMBINED 
JUNE  30,  1987 

Land 

Buildings  & Building  Improvements 
Machinery  and  Equipment 

$11,569,168 

4,124,454 

897,957 

Total  Fixed  Assets 

$16,591,579 

January  1988 


Pennsylvania  Angler 


Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission  Directory 

EXECUTIVE  OFEICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E.,  Executive  Director  717-657-4515 

Water  Resources  Coordinator,  Fred  W.  Johnson  

Fishery  Resources  Biologist,  Robert  B.  Hesser 

Legislative  Liaison,  Joseph  A.  Greene 

Chief  Counsel.  Dennis  T.  Guise 


BUREAU  OF  ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES 
(State  Headquarters) 

Acting  Director,  Allison  J.  Mayhew  717-657-4522 

Personnel  & Employment,  Allison  J.  Mayhew 

Budget  Analyst,  Donna  J Grey  

Purchasing  (Harrisburg),  Sheila  Y.  Green  

Purchasing  (Bellefonte),  N.  Dennis  Shultz  

Fishing  License  Section,  Mary  C.  Stine.  Supervisor  . . . 

Federal  Aid  Coordinator,  Glen  C.  Reed  

Office  Services  Supervisor,  Chester  A.  Peyton  

Automotive/Telecommunications,  Theodore  E.  Wagner 


BUREAU  OF  BOATING 

John  F.  Simmons,  Acting  Director  717-657-4538 

John  F.  Simmons,  Administrative  Officer  

Boating  Safety  and  Education  Division, 

Virgil  H.  Chambers,  Chief 

Boat  Registration  Division, 

Andrew  R.  Mutch,  Chief  


BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION  AND  INFORMATION 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director  717-657-4518 

Education,  Stephen  B.  Ulsh 717-657-4518 

Special  Publications  and  Broadcasting, 

Larry  L.  Shaffer  717-657-4518 

Media  Relations,  David  A.  Wolf  717-657-4518 

PA  Angler,  Boat  PA  Editor,  Arthur  J.  Michaels  717-657-4520 

PA  Angler,  Boat  PA  Circulation,  Eleanor  Mutch  717-657-4521 

Graphic  Design,  Ted  R,  Walke 717-657-4394 


BUREAU  OF  LAW  ENFORCEMENT 
Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director  717-657-4542 

Assistant  to  the  Director,  Perry  D.  Heath  717-657-4542 

Assistant  to  the  Director,  James  R.  Smith 717-657-4542 

REGIONAL  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  OFFICES 

Northwest,  Walter  G Lazusky,  Manager  814-437-5774 

Mailing  address  Box  349,  Franklin,  PA  16323 

Location  1281  Otter  St.,  Franklin,  PA 

Southwest,  Thomas  F.  Qualters,  Manager 814-445-8974 

Mailing  address  RD  2,  Box  39,  Somerset,  PA  15501 

Location  On  Lake  Somerset,  Somerset,  PA 

Northeast,  Kerry  L.  Messerle,  Manager 717-477-5717 

Mailing  address  Box  88,  Sweet  Valley,  PA  18656 

Location  On  Harris  Pond,  Sweet  Valley,  PA 

Southeast,  Robert  J.  Perry,  Manager 717-626-0228 

Mailing  address  Box  6,  Elm,  PA  17521 

Location  On  Speedwell  Forge  Lake 

Northcentral,  Paul  F.  Swanson,  Manager  717-726-6056 

Mailing  address  P.O.  Box  187,  Lamar,  PA  16848 

Location  Fishing  Creek  Road,  Lamar,  PA 

Southcentral,  Frank  Schilling.  Manager 717-486-7087 

Mailing  address  RD  1,  Box  848,  Newville,  PA  17241 

Location  On  Pine  Road,  Huntsdale,  PA 


State  headquarters:  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harrisburg,  PA  17109 
Mailing  address:  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673 


BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 

Delano  R.  Graff,  Director  814-359-5169 

Dennis  C.  Ricker,  Administrative  Officer  814-359-5100 

Division  of  Research,  Vincent  A.  Mudrak,  Chief  814-355-4837 

1225  Shiloh  Road.  State  College,  PA  16801-8495 
Division  of  Environmental  Services, 

Jack  G.  Miller,  Chief  814-359-5140 

450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 
Division  of  Fisheries  Management, 

Richard.  A.  Snyder,  Chief  814-359-5177 

450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 

AREA  FISHERIES  MANAGERS 

Area  2:  Ronald  D.  Lee 814-755-3524 

Star  Route  2,  Tionesta,  PA  16353 

Area  3:  Bruce  A.  Hollender 814-359-5118 

450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 

Area  4:  David  W.  Daniels  717-477-5717 

Box  88,  Sweet  Valley,  PA  18656 

Area  5:  Craig  W.  Billingsley  717-588-6388 

PA  Fish  Commission,  Bushkill,  PA  18324 

Area  6:  Michael  L.  Kaufmann  215-847-2442 

Box  556,  Revere,  PA  18953 

Area  7:  Lawrence  L.  Jackson 717-486-3710 

RD  5,  Box  393,  Carlisle,  PA  17013 

Area  8:  Blake  C.  Weirich 814-445-8974 

RD  2,  Box  39,  Somerset,  PA  15501-9311 

Division  of  Trout  Production,  Dennis  Ricker,  Acting  Chief  814-359-5143 
450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 

Cooperative  Nursery  Section,  Paul  R.  Byers,  Chief 814-359-5172 

450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 
Division  of  Warmwater/Coolwater  Fish  Propagation, 

Shyrl  E.  Hood,  Chief  814-683-4451 

Linesville  Fish  Culture  Station 
Box  127,  Linesville,  PA  16424 

FISH  CULTURE  STATIONS 

Bellefonte,  William  B.  Hoover,  Superintendent  814-355-3371 

RD  4,  Box  230,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823 

Benner  Spring,  William  C.  Kennedy,  Superintendent 814-355-4837 

1225  Shiloh  Road,  State  College,  PA  16801-8495 

Big  Spring,  Eugene  J.  Rozaieski,  Superintendent  717-776-3170 

RD  5,  Box  902,  Newville,  PA  17241 

.Corry-Union  City,  Thomas  L.  Clark,  Superintendent 814-664-2122 

13363  West  Smith  Street  Ext.,  Corry,  PA  16407-8915 

Fairview,  Neil  W.  Shea,  Superintendent 814-474-1514 

P.O.  Box  531,  2000  Lohrer  Road,  Fairview,  PA  16415-0531 

Huntsdale,  Kenneth  C.  Martin,  Superintendent  717-486-3419 

RD  5,  Box  393,  Carlisle,  PA  17013 

Linesville,  James  E.  Harvey,  Superintendent  814-683-4451 

Box  127,  Linesville,  PA  16424 

Oswayo,  D.  Ray  Merriman,  Superintendent  814-698-2102 

RD  2,  Box  84,  Coudersport,  PA  16915 

Pleasant  Gap-Tylersville, 

John  A.  Bair,  Superintendent  814-359-5132 

450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 

Pleasant  Mount,  Zenas  B.  Bean,  Superintendent 717-448-2101 

P.O.  Box  3,  Pleasant  Mount,  PA  18453 

Reynoldsdale,  David  R.  Bierly,  Superintendent 814-839-2211 

R.D.  1,  Box  50,  New  Paris,  PA  15554-9401 

Tionesta,  Charles  R.  Mann,  Superintendent  814-755-3524 

Box  1,  Star  Route  2,  Tionesta,  PA  16353 


BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY  AND  FACILITIES  MANAGEMENT 
450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823-9616 

James  A.  Young,  Acting  Director  814-359-5149 


Jane  E.  Seyler,  Administrative  Assistant  814-359-5166 

Division  of  Engineering  and  Technical  Services, 

K.  Ronald  Weis,  Chief  814-359-5127 

Division  of  Construction  and  Maintenance  Services, 

James  A.  Young,  Chief 814-359-5149 

Division  of  Property  Services, 

Eugene  O.  Banker,  Jr.,  Chief  814-359-5181 


.717-657-4546 

814-359-5158 

717-657-4517 

717-657-4545 


717-657-4528 

717-657-4532 

717-657-4533 

814-359-5131 

717-657-4534 

717-657-4531 

717-657-4527 

717-657-4537 


717-657-4369 

717-657-4392 

717-657-4551 


Why  be  ALLARMed? 


ty  Dr.  Candie  C.  Wilderman 


The  problem  is  a serious  one.  In  testimony 
delivered  to  the  Bipartisan  Acid  Rain  Cau- 
cus on  June  10,  1987,  Fish  Commission 
Water  Resources  Coordinator  Fred  John- 
son estimated  that  6,000  miles  of  trout 
streams  in  Pennsylvania  are  now  vulner- 
able to  further  acidification  and  fish  loss 
if  the  acidity  of  precipitation  remains  un- 
controlled. In  a recent  press  release,  the 
Fish  Commission  estimated  that  about  half 
of  the  state’s  streams  will  not  be  able  to 
support  fish  or  other  wildlife  by  the  year 
2000  unless  steps  are  taken  to  reduce  acid 
rain.  And  a recent  study  by  Dr.  Patricia 
Bradt  of  Lehigh  University  has  shown  that 
the  vulnerability  of  our  Pocono  lakes  is 
comparable  to  that  of  our  smallest  streams, 
and  that  72  percent  of  the  lakes  are  either 
acidic  or  vulnerable,  with  about  8 percent 
no  longer  able  to  support  a fishery.  The 
Poconos  are  second  only  to  the  Adiron- 
dacks  in  regard  to  the  negative  impact  of 
acid  rain. 

Have  you  noticed  any  differences  in  your 


fishing  haunts  over  the  years?  Do  you  fish 
in  one  of  the  85-90  streams  for  which  the 
Fish  Commission  has  been  forced  to  change 
its  stocking  patterns  because  of  increasing 
acidity  ? Have  you  noticed  any  skeletal  de- 
formities or  spinal  curvature  in  the  adult 
fish  that  you  have  caught,  or  have  you 
noticed  that  the  gills  have  a whitish  color, 
rather  than  the  normal  bright  red  ? Have 
you  observed  that  some  streams  have  had 
year-class  losses  of  more  vulnerable  brown 
trout,  while  the  upper  reaches  may  no  longer 
support  this  species  at  all?  Are  the  sen- 
sitive basses  disappearing  from  your  fa- 
vorite lake? 

Pennsylvania  receives  the  most  acid  rain 
in  the  nation,  and  we  can  expect  the  effects 
on  the  fisheries  to  be  both  cumulative  and 
in  some  situations,  irreversible.  And  as  if 
the  loss  of  the  fisheries  is  not  enough, 
scientists  are  documenting  a quickening 
trend  of  forest  loss,  erosion  of  monuments 
and  buildings,  possible  crop  damage,  and 
threats  to  human  health  through  direct  m- 

January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


ft* 


ALLARM  Testing  Sites 


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ALL  ARM  volunteers  monitor  sites  weekly. 
They  are  interested  citizens,  families,  scout 
groups,  teachers,  environmental  educators, 
social  service  workers  and  students. 


halation  of  the  pollutants  that  form  acid 
rain,  and  through  the  contamination  of 
drinking  water  by  metals  dissolved  and 
transported  by  acid  rain. 

ALLARM,  the  Alliance  for  Acid  Rain 
Monitoring,  is  a group  of  citizen  volun- 
teers who  joined  together  out  of  a concern 
for  the  growing  effects  of  acid  rain  on  our 
streams  and  waterways.  Its  goals  are: 

• To  document  the  effects  of  acid  precip- 
itation in  local  areas  by  monitoring  stream 
acidity,  and 

•To  provide  education  on  the  problem, 
in  a concerted  effort  to  influence  deci- 
sion-makers. 

In  a period  of  six  months,  we  have  grown 
to  include  over  70  volunteers  in  14  coun- 
ties, concentrated  in  southcentral  Penn- 
sylvania. 

What  do  volunteers  do? 

ALLARM  volunteers  are  responsible 
for  systematically  monitoring  some  75  sites 
along  streams  of  their  choice,  either  weekly 
or  biweekly,  in  16  Pennsylvania  counties. 
Some  volunteers  choose  to  monitor  streams 
near  their  homes  or  recreational  areas. 
Others  ask  us  to  suggest  streams  that  may 
be  in  particular  danger  of  further  acidifi- 
cation. 

Volunteers  buy  from  us  (at  our  cost, 
$15)  a water-testing  kit  that  measures  both 


26  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


photo — David  Wilderman  Graphics-  Dan  Hackenburger 


the  pH  and  the  alkalinity  of  the  water. 
Monitoring  a single  site  requires  only  10 
minutes.  A high-quality  pH  paper  from 
West  Germany  is  used  to  measure  pH, 
and  a simple  titration  measures  alkalinity 
(following  the  direetions  is  like  following 
a recipe). 

The  data  are  recorded  on  special  data 
collection  forms  and  sent  to  the  ALLARM 
office  in  Carlisle.  After  the  data  are  com- 
piled and  put  into  our  computer  data  base, 
we  do  an  analysis  that  compares  the  stream 
to  other  monitored  waterways.  We  then 
statistically  document  trends  in  the  stream 
over  the  period  monitored,  relating  those 
trends  to  rainfalls  in  the  local  region,  if 
possible.  We  return  those  results  to  the 
volunteers  and  ask  that  they  share  them 
with  other  citizens,  and  that  they  contact 
their  legislators. 

ALLARM  volunteers  may  also  partic- 
ipate in  training  workshops,  letter-writing 
campaigns,  public  meetings  and  confer- 
ences. We  have  gradually  built  up  our 
informational  resources  so  that  we  now 
act  as  a center  for  information  on  acid  rain 
in  the  state.  And  we  have  developed  a 
slide  show  on  acid  rain  that  is  available 
for  use  by  interested  groups. 

Who  are  ALLARM  volunteers? 

Currently  our  group  consists  of  inter- 
ested citizens  and  their  families,  scouting 
groups,  school  teachers  and  environmen- 
tal education  specialists,  social  service 
workers  and  their  clients,  and  student  vol- 
unteers. Our  youngest  volunteers  include 
a fourth  and  a fifth  grader  from  the  Carlisle 
School  District,  and  many  of  our  volun- 
teers are  retired  persons. 

Some  volunteers  monitor  the  same 
stream  at  the  same  site  every  week;  others 
take  their  kits  with  them  on  their  fishing 
trips  and  have  monitored  dozens  of  streams 
and  lakes.  We  have  one  volunteer  who  is 
measuring  the  major  creeks  within  a 60- 
mile  radius  of  his  home,  and  another  who 
only  needs  to  walk  50  yards  to  her  mon- 
itoring site. 

What  are  we  learning? 

Twelve  of  the  16  counties  in  which  we 
have  monitored  have  streams  that  fall  into 
the  endangered  or  very  vulnerable  cate- 
gories. It  is  the  underlying  bedrock  in  a 
watershed  that  determines  whether  or  not 
the  stream  will  be  able  to  protect  itself 
from  acid  onslaught,  and  Pennsylvania’s 
geology  is  highly  variable.  Nonetheless, 
our  results  confirm  the  Fish  Commission’s 
observation  that  the  most  adversely  im- 
pacted streams  are  small,  high-quality 


feeder  streams  in  the  hills  and  mountains. 

Even  more  importantly,  we  are  learning 
that  people  care  about  the  impact  of  acid 
deposition,  and  that  they  are  willing  to  act 
to  help  find  a solution.  We  are  learning 
that  legislators  generally  do  not  believe 
that  we  care  enough  about  this  issue,  or 
that  it  is  politically  relevant  enough  to  be 
worthy  of  their  attention.  However,  our 
volunteers,  who  have  devoted  time  and 
money  to  this  program  of  monitoring  and 
self-education,  are  “living  proof”  that 
concern  is  high  and  that  the  time  for  the 
legislature  to  reduce  polluting  emissions 
is  now. 

We  are  also  learning  that  the  best  ed- 
ucation comes  from  participation  and  hands- 
on  involvement,  and  we  have  found  that 
the  education  that  citizens  get  from  mon- 
itoring streams  is  long-lasting  and  of  the 
highest  quality.  Enough  scientific  studies 
have  documented  the  adverse  effects  of 
acid  deposition;  our  volunteers  have  seen 
the  impacts  themselves,  as  they  have 
watched  pH  and  alkalinity  lluctuate  with 
rainfall.  People  armed  with  first-hand  in- 
formation to  back  up  their  concerns  can 
have  a powerful  influence  on  decision- 
makers. 

Get  ALLARMed! 

ALLARM  invites  you  to  join  us  in  our 
monitoring  efforts.  As  a member  of  AL- 
LARM, you  are  part  of  a volunteer  net- 
work acting  as  guardians  of  our  lakes,  res- 
ervoirs, and  streams. 

As  you  can  see  from  the  site  location 
map.  our  volunteers  are  concentrated  in 
southcentral  Pennsylvania.  We  not  only 
need  to  increase  our  numbers  in  south- 
central  Pennsylvania,  but  we  would  like 
to  have  statewide  coverage.  In  addition  to 
needing  volunteers,  we  must  also  have  cit- 
izens who  are  interested  in  acting  as  re- 
gional coordinators.  That  is,  we  envision 
a network  involving  a number  of  satellite 
groups  across  the  state,  each  with  its  own 
local  coordinator  to  deal  with  communi- 
cation and  local  training  workshops.  The 
data  would  be  sent  to  the  Carlisle  office 
and  put  into  our  computer  data  base;  we 
would  continue  to  oversee  all  groups,  to 
compile,  analyze  and  send  back  data  re- 
sults, to  act  as  an  information  clearing- 
house, to  edit  the  newsletter,  and  to  train 
regional  coordinators. 

As  ALLARM  grows,  we  find  ourselves 
more  and  more  in  need  of  operating  funds. 
We  have  asked  folks  who  cannot  donate 
their  time  and  energy  in  monitoring  to  do- 
nate money  to  support  other  monitors.  In 
addition,  we  are  looking  for  suggestions 


for  funding  sources  to  continue  the  mo- 
mentum of  our  growth. 

If  you  are  concerned  about  your  favorite 
fishing  place  and  would  like  it  to  remain 
a fishery  for  your  grandchildren,  why  not 
join  us  ? 

Dr.  Candle  C.  Wildennan  is  coordi- 
nator of  ALLARM.  She  is  an  associ- 
ate professor  of  environmental  sci- 
ences at  Dickinson  College,  in  Carlisle, 
DA.  For  more  details  on  ALLARM. 
contact  her  at  Dickinson  College,  De- 
partment of  Geology,  Carlisle,  DA 
17013-2896'. 

Tragedy  of 
the  Commons 

In  1968,  Dr.  Garrett  Hardin  coined 
the  term  “tragedy  of  the  commons” 
in  a now  classic  article  published  in 
Science  magazine.  He  was  referring 
to  the  long-term  results  of  individuals 
or  individual  industries  acting  in  their 
own  interests,  without  regard  for  the 
common  interest.  Hardin  states  that 
we  are  “locked  into  a system  of  foul- 
ing our  own  nest,  so  long  as  we  be- 
have only  as  independent,  rational, 
free  enterprisers.” 

The  problem  of  acid  rain  is  a per- 
fect example  of  a tragedy  of  the  com- 
mons. It  is,  of  course,  cheaper  for 
individuals  to  discharge  their  waste 
into  the  atmosphere  than  to  contain  it 
and  treat  it  on-site.  The  atmosphere 
is  a commons — no  one  owns  it,  no 
one  is  in  charge,  no  one  will  bear 
alone  the  costs  of  its  destruction.  If 
we  all  operate  in  our  own  interests, 
then  the  common  good  will  not  be 
served,  and  in  fact,  the  commons  will 
eventually  collapse.  Short-term  ben- 
efits to  a few;  long-term  catastrophe 
for  all — a true  tragedy. 

Hardin  believes  that  individual  in- 
terests must  be  coerced  into  acting  for 
the  common  good — thus,  the  ration- 
ale for  government  control  through 
environmental  legislation,  taxing  de- 
vices, or  economic  incentives. 

Hardin’s  analysis  makes  it  clear  that 
we  must  each  share  the  cost  of  pro- 
tecting the  commons.  Reducing  emis- 
sions from  automobiles,  industries  and 
utilities  and  thereby  reducing  acid 
deposition  will  require  that  all  of  us 
commit  ourselves  to  paying  the  true 
cost  of  the  services  that  these  tech- 
nologies provide  for  us. — CCW 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


LETTER  PUT-TOGETHER 


Put  the  letters  in  column  B at  the  end  of  the  letters 
in  column  A.  You  should  be  able  to  spell  12  fish 


A Career  in  Conservation 


A Fash  Cufturist 

The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  employs 
more  than  100  fish  culturists  to  raise  and  help 
stock  over  70  million  fish  each  year. 

Some  of  their  duties  are: 

• Netting,  sorting  and  grading  fish. 

• Extracting,  fertilizing  and  hatching  fish  eggs. 

• Feeding  various  sizes  and  species  of  fish. 

• Cleaning  raceways,  water  filters  and  screens. 

• Constructing  and  repairing  hatchery  buildings. 

• Helping  to  maintain  hatchery  property. 

• Driving  stocking  trucks. 

Fish  culturists  are  required  to  work  outdoors  in 
all  kinds  of  weather.  They  must  be  strong  enough 
to  carry  heavy  buckets  and  nets  filled  with  fish. 
They  also  must,  at  times,  work  long  hours  and  on 
weekends. 

mouuiuj  ZL  d>l!d  'LL  /99  0L  Jayons  6 uifMoq  g Aysnuj  j_ 
inon  '9  uoui/es  g djeo  > sseq  £ qojad  z pegs  l :SU3MSNV 


A 

B 

1.  sh 

a.  rch 

2.  pe 

b.  rp 

3.  ba 

c.  ky 

4.  ca 

d.  ad 

5.  sal 

e.  out 

6.  tr 

f.  mon 

7.  mus 

g.  es 

8.  bow 

h.  1 

9.  sue 

i.  now 

10.  ee 

j.  ke 

11.  pi 

k.  ker 

12.  min 

1.  fin 

28  January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


CONSERVE  88 

CONSERVE  88  is  the  tenth  in  a series 
of  award-winning  calendars,  published  by 
the  Western  Pennsylvania  Conservancy, 
the  state’s  largest  private  land  conserva- 
tion organization. 

WEST  f.RN  PENNSYLVANIA  C.ONS6RVAHCY  CONSERVE  I9fi0 


The  1988  calendar  features  the  water- 
color  works  of  Andrey  Avinoff,  a Rus- 
sian-bom  artist  and  scientist  who  was  di- 
rector of  the  Carnegie  Museum  from  1926 
to  1945.  Except  in  an  occasional  exhibition, 
most  of  the  featured  watercolors  have  never 
been  seen  in  public.  The  calendar  also 
includes  its  traditional  listing  of  hundreds 
of  places  to  go,  things  to  do,  and  inter- 
esting facts  about  the  natural  world. 

The  calendar  can  be  ordered  for  $6  each 
plus  6 percent  sales  tax  from:  Western 
Pennsylvania  Conservancy,  316  Fourth 
Avenue,  Pittsburgh,  PA  15222. 

Kettle  Creek 
Catch-and-Release  Area 

The  Fish  Commission  has  proposed  to 
redesignate  a 1.7-mile  stretch  of  Kettle 
Creek,  Potter  County,  from  a fly-fishing- 
only  area  to  a catch-and-release  area.  This 
change  will  mean  that  a daily  creel  limit 
of  0 trout  will  apply  and  fishing  may  be 
done  with  fly  fishing  or  spinning  gear  us- 
ing flies  or  artificial  lures  with  barbless 
hooks.  This  change  in  designation  will  also 
affect  the  fisheries  management  status  of 
these  waters  for  purposes  of  trout  stock- 
ing. If  you  have  comments,  questions  or 
objections  concerning  the  proposed  change, 
write  to  the  Executive  Director,  Pennsyl- 
vania Fish  Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 


Allegheny  Campground 

Allegheny  River  State  Park  Primitive 
Rest  Stop  Access.  Say  that  mouthful  five 
times  fast  without  a mistake  and  you  get 
to  camp  there  overnight  free.  Of  course, 
there  is  no  road  leading  to  it.  Not  the  kind 
of  road  you  would  want  to  subject  a decent 
4 x 4 to,  anyway.  Unless  you  like  rolling 
boulders  off  the  trail  and  ducking  the  ones 
that  come  bounding  down  the  mountain- 
side, fording  creeks  and  driving  through 
axle-deep  mud. 

But  that’s  the  whole  idea.  A Fish  Com- 
mission primitive  rest  stop  access  is  in- 
tended to  be  available  only  from  the  water. 

This  Fish  Commission  access  offers  only 
a project  sign,  lots  of  peace  and  quiet,  and 
nice  places  to  pitch  a tent.  Primitive.  San- 
itary facilities?  Dig  your  own.  Bring 
everything  you  need,  and  take  your  trash 
with  you  when  you  leave,  please. 

The  Allegheny  River  State  Park  is  a 
dream  that  died,  and  the  land  has  been 
transferred  to  the  Bureau  of  State  Forests, 
but  the  two-acre  primitive  rest  stop,  es- 
tablished on  the  park  lands  by  the  Fish 
Commission  in  1978,  remains  for  float 
trippers  to  use  for  overnight  camping. 

It  is  located  on  the  right  bank  (looking 
downstream)  of  the  Allegheny  River,  across 
from  the  upper  end  of  the  village  of  Ken- 
nerdell.  Landing  areas  are  marked  by  blaze- 
orange  circles  painted  on  boulders  at  the 


The  Allegheny  River  Primitive  Rest  Stop 
Access  was  opened  as  a test  of  the  concept 
of  providing  overnight  stopping  places  for 
float  trips.  The  Fish  Commission  needed 
to  know  if  this  kind  of  camping  area  would 
be  used,  and  if  the  users  would  keep  it 
free  of  litter. 

The  results  of  this  test  have  been  fa- 
vorable, and  the  Commission  hopes  to  open 
additional  primitive  rest  stop  accesses  on 
the  North  and  West  branches  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  in  the  summer  of  1988. 
— Philip  Anderson 


Delaware  Estuary 
Book  Available 

To  Pennsylvania  anglers,  the  Delaware 
Estuary  is  vital  habitat  for  tasty  weakfish, 
bluefish,  flounder  and  more.  Yet,  do  you 
realize  how  much  the  waterway  has  af- 
fected your  life?  The  University  of  Del- 
aware Sea  Grant  College  Program  invites 
you  to  take  a closer  look  at  the  estuary 
through  a new  book  designed  for  non- 
scientists, The  Delaware  Estuary:  Redis- 
covering a Forgotten  Resource. 

In  more  than  140  pages,  enhanced  by 
historical  and  color  photographs,  maps, 
graphs  and  species  identification  guides, 
regional  authors  ranging  from  scientists 
and  resource  managers  to  folklorists  and 
historians  review  the  aquatic  region  ex- 
tending from  Cape  May  and  Cape  Hen- 
lopen  to  Trenton. 

Topics  include  history,  geology,  mi- 
gratory shorebirds,  tidal  marshes,  human 
use,  and  management,  with  one  chapter 
devoted  to  the  estuary’s  fisheries  resource. 

The  Delaware  Estuary >:  Rediscovering 
a Forgotten  Resource  is  a softbound, 
oversized  publication,  13  inches  high  and 
1 1 inches  wide,  and  will  be  available  this 
spring  at  a cost  of  $20  postpaid. 

To  receive  your  copy,  send  a check  or 
money  order  payable  to  the  University  of 
Delaware  to:  Sea  Grant  Communications, 
196  S.  College  Avenue,  Newark,  DE 
19716. 

I 

“SUPPORT  SOMETHING  WILD” 

Help  Protect  the  Coastal  Plain 

Leopard  Frog. 

Donate  on  Line  IOC  or  19C 
of  the  State  income  tax  form 
to  the 

Wild  Resource  Conservation  Fund. 

Pa's  Tax  Checkoff. 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Cowanshannock  Creek 
Access 

Nestled  in  the  bluffs  of  a mile  or  so 
north  of  Kittanning  is  the  new  Cowan- 
shannock Creek  Access,  a place  to  launch 
a boat,  or  just  to  go  fishing. 

The  land  for  this  access  area  was  do- 


nated to  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion by  the  Cowanshannock  Creek  Wa- 
tershed Association  in  1983,  and  was 
developed  by  the  Commission’s  Engi- 
neering Bureau  in  1987. 

The  launch  ramp  is  designed  for  large 
boats,  but  the  stream  size  makes  use  of 
craft  larger  than  20  feet  inadvisable.  There 
are  35  parking  spaces  for  cars  with  trailers. 


and  1 1 for  cars  alone. 

The  access  area  is  unique  because  it 
provides  access  to  the  Allegheny  River 
Pool  7 through  railroad  and  highway  un- 
derpasses. 

The  Allegheny  in  the  area  provides  a 
good  fishery  for  smallmouth  bass,  wall- 
eye, sauger,  crappies  and  fiathead  and 
channel  catfish. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


Remember  the  landowner  who  gifted  you 
with  access  to  a stretch  of  stream  or  a farm- 
pond  last  spring?  Stopping  by  his  house  with 
a token  of  Christmas  appreciation  (maybe 
a subscription  to  Pennsylvania  Angler) 
will  show  that  you’re  more  than  a fair- 
weather  friend. 


A small  flask  of  wine  might  warm  the 
spirits  when  fishing  in  cold  weather,  but 
contrary  to  traditional  beliefs,  alcohol  does 
nothing  to  warm  the  body.  Instead  it  can 
lower  your  body  temperature.  Carry  a ther- 
mos of  hot  coffee,  tea,  chocolate,  bullion 
or  soup. 


Metal  cup  hooks  screwed  into  the  studs  of 
your  garage,  shed  or  basement  provides  a 
convenient  way  to  store  your  rods  for  the 
winter.  Suspend  the  rods  by  their  guides; 
preferably  those  nearest  to  the  upper  two- 
thirds  of  the  rod. 

If  you  carry  your  camera  afield  during  the 
winter,  keep  it  under  your  coat  when  not  in 
use.  Also  keep  a cover  on  the  lens  so  that  it 
will  not  pick  up  lint  from  your  clothing,  get 
scratched  or  fog  up  when  exposed  to  the 
cold  air. 

Zip-lock  type  bags  were  once  confined  to 
kitchen  uses  but  now  they’ve  made  their  way 
outdoors.  Last  winter  I used  two  of  the 
smaller  ones,  along  with  a bedding  of  wood 
shavings,  to  carry  ice  fishing  grubs.  The 
bags  were  placed  in  an  inside  pocket  of  my 
coat  and  stayed  warm  and  lively  throughout 
the  day. 


Sunglasses  are  used  more  in  warm 
weather  than  cold  but  they’ll  also  save  eye- 
strain  during  sunny,  winter  days  when  snow 
covers  the  ground  and  ice.  Wear  dark,  pref- 
erably polarized  lenses  to  cut  the  glare. 

Don’t  be  too  hasty  about  beginning  the  ice 
fishing  season.  Lakes  do  not  freeze  uni- 
formly. Just  because  the  ice  is  safe  near  the 
shore  doesn’t  mean  it  will  be  as  thick  in 
places  where  there’s  spring  action,  stick-ups 
or  other  near-surface  structure. 

If  there’s  any  substantial  amount  of  out- 
board motor  gasoline  left  in  your  tank,  treat 
it  now  with  fuel  stabilizer.  At  nearly  $1  a 
gallon,  no  one  can  afford  to  waste  fuel  that 
may  break  down  or  take  water  during  winter 
storage. 

A small  shad  dart  embellished  with  a gmb 
or  maggot  makes  a good  ice  fishing  jig. 


Many  anglers  will  buy  (or  get  gifts  of) 
state  fishing  licenses.  While  the  thought’s  on 
your  mind,  jot  down  your  license  number  on 
adhesive  tape  and  put  it  in  the  lid  of  your 
tacklebox.  Should  you  lose  the  original  it 
will  be  much  easier  to  get  a replacement  if 
the  number’s  known. 


illustration— George  Lavamsh 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state's  diver- 
silied  fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R Miller,  PE. 

Executive  Director 
Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 


BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Paul  F.  O'Brien,  Director 
Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 


BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Jack  Miller,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder.  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Vacant,  Division  of  Trout  Production 
Shyrl  Hood,  Division  of  Warmwater/ 
Coohvaier  Fish  Production 


BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Acting  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Sendees 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R A . Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Senices 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Chief, 
Division  of  Property'  Sendees 


BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W Man  hart,  Director 


BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons.  Acting  Director 
Virgil  Chambers.  Division  of  Boating 
Safety'  Education 

Cheryl  Kimerline.  Special  Programs 
Coordinator 

Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registrations 


BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
Dave  Wolf.  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


30  January  1 988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


MAIL 

A stolen  12-footer 

My  question  involves  small-boat  theft. 
My  boat  was  stolen  June  6,  1987,  from 
the  baek  of  my  apartment.  1 did  every- 
thing possible — police  reports,  Coast 
Guard  report— an  ad  in  four  newspa- 
pers, three  surrounding  state  police  re- 
ports— everything. 

It  was  a 12-foot  Sears  V-bottom  boat. 
All  I heard  was  that  1 would  never  see 
it  again.  What  is  boat  registration  for  if 
it  does  not  help?  Can  we  improve  the 
system?  My  boat  was  properly  regis- 
tered— everything  was  done  right,  and 
it  was  completely  legal  and  water-safe. 
Besides  the  regular  suggestions,  you  hear 
about  locking  it  up  with  bigger  chains. 
What  can  we  do  to  stop  these  boat  thieves 
and  what  does  a thief  do  with  a stolen 
boat  after  he  takes  it?  Thank  you  for 
listening,  and  for  a great  magazine! — 
Michael  Kuscin,  Philadelphia,  PA 

We  are  sorry  to  hear  that  your  boat 
was  stolen.  Unfortunately  you  have 
joined  the  ranks  of  hundreds  of  other 
boaters  who  have  had  their  boats  sto- 
len over  the  past  several  years.  If  we 
look  over  our  stolen  boat  reports,  your 
case  looks  like  the  classic — a 12-foot 
aluminum  rowboat,  unchained  or 
lightly  chained  in  an  out-of-the-way 
place,  stolen  on  a weekend  in  June. 

Yours  was  an  old  boat  without  a 
hull  identification  number  (HIN) 
stamped  in  the  transom,  so  when  the 
registration  numbers  were  stripped 
from  the  hull  it  became  totally  void  of 
any  identifying  markings.  If  the  per- 
son who  stole  the  boat  wanted  to  reg- 
ister the  boat,  he  could  simply  claim 
that  the  boat  had  never  been  regis- 
tered before,  and  that  it  had  always 
been  used  as  a rowboat. 

Boats  such  as  yours  are  the  easiest 
targets  for  boat  theft.  They  are  easy 
to  steal  and  easy  to  dispose  of.  Know- 
ing this,  owners  of  such  boats  should 
take  extra  precautions  with  their  boats. 
They  should  be  kept  in  a secure  place 
and  they  should  be  chained.  For  boats 
manufactured  before  1972,  identify- 
ing numbers  should  be  stamped  into 
the  hull  and  these  numbers  should  be 
given  to  the  Commission  Boat  Regis- 


tration Division  for  inclusion  in  the 
computer  records  that  are  checked  for 
each  new  registration. 

The  registration  of  unpowered  boats 
would  also  help.  If  the  person  who  stole 
your  boat  knew  he  had  to  register  it 
in  order  to  use  it,  he  might  have  thought 
twice  about  taking  it.  The  Commis- 
sion tried  to  get  registration  of  un- 
powered boats  during  the  last  session 
of  the  General  Assembly,  but  the  pro- 
posal was  defeated  through  the  efforts 
of  a few  canoe  clubs.  Write  to  your 
legislator  and  support  registration  of 
unpowered  boats.  Until  we  have  reg- 
istration of  row  boats  there  is  little  that 
can  be  done  to  recover  these  boats, 
which  just  disappear  into  the  back- 
waters. 

While  it  probably  would  not  have 
had  any  effect  on  the  outcome  of  your 
case,  you  reported  your  boat  theft  to 
everyone  but  the  Fish  Commission. 

We  will  eventually  get  a report  from 
the  State  Police,  but  the  Fish  and  Boat 
Code  requires  that  all  stolen  boats  be 
reported  within  15  days  to  the  Boat 
Registration  Division.  This  enables  us 
to  flag  our  computer  records  that  the 
boat  was  stolen  and  not  to  process  any 
transactions  for  the  boat.  It  also  en- 
ables us  to  inform  our  field  officers 
who  are  in  the  best  position  to  find  the 
stolen  boat  in  use. 

Boat  theft  in  Pennsylvania  does  not 
result  in  large  dollar  problems,  but 
the  number  of  small  boats  that  are 
stolen  makes  it  a concern  for  all  of  us. 
Our  Law  Enforcement  Division  is 
working  closely  with  our  Registration 
Division  and  with  surrounding  states 
in  an  attempt  to  control  boat  theft.  It 
won’t  be  easy  but  we  are  making  prog- 
ress. In  the  meantime,  all  boaters 
should  be  aware  of  the  problem  and 
take  the  steps  necessary  to  secure  their 
boat  and  equipment  from  theft. — John 
F.  Simmons,  Acting  Director,  Bureau 
of  Boating 

Coast  Guard  comments 

This  letter  concerns  the  articles  “Thieves 
Are  Eyeing  Your  Boat,  Motor,  and 
Trailer,”  by  Art  Michaels,  and  “An 
Awareness  Program  in  Boating  and  Water 
Safety,”  by  Virgil  Chambers,  which  ap- 
peared in  the  September  1987  Angler.  Both 
articles  are  excellent  pieces.  It  is  certainly 
encouraging  to  see  substantive  material  on 


boating  safety  in  your  magazine. 

In  1986.  one  fifth  of  all  boating  safety 
fatalities  in  the  U.S.  happened  on  boats 
used  for  hunting  or  fishing.  Nearly  every 
one  of  these  fatalities  cxcurred  when  the 
boat  was  anchored  or  drifting.  Typically, 
these  accidents  involved  boat  capsizings 
or  falls  overboard.  Very  often  the  occu- 
pants were  not  wearing  personal  flotation 
devices  (PFDs)  when  they  went  into  the 
water.  And  although  we  have  no  exact 
statistics,  we  are  certain  that  the  con- 
sumption of  alcohol  played  a part  in  caus- 
ing many  of  these  accidents.  Because  of 
this,  two  constant  themes  in  boater  edu- 
cation have  been:  Avoid  drinking  alcohol 
while  operating  a boat,  and  wear  a PHD 
at  all  times  when  under  way. 

Your  article  on  boat  theft  will  add  to 
the  awareness  of  Pennsylvania  boaters  on 
an  important  issue.  Although  not  directly 
a boating  safety  issue.  I'm  sure  it  is  a topic 
of  concern  to  many  boat  owners  and  state 
law  enforcement  officials. 

Please  keep  up  the  good  work.  —W.  P. 
Hewel,  Captain,  U.S.  Coast  Guard,  Act- 
ing Chief,  Office  of  Boating,  Public,  and 
Consumer  Affairs. 

Ocean  stater  observations 

The  October  1987  issue  of  Pennsylva- 
nia Angler  is  an  outstanding  issue  with  an 
excellent  selection  of  articles.  For  those 
who  are  unaware,  or  new  to  the  outdoors, 
these  articles  provide  an  excellent  guide 
to  what  is  happening,  and  what  to  look  for. 

In  particular.  “Dramas  at  the  Forest 
Pool,”  “The  Timber  Rattlesnake"  and 
“Kids  Page”  all  heighten  our  understand- 
ing of  what  is  happening,  what  to  look  for 
and  where  to  look  to  appreciate  the  out- 
door world.  How  many  of  us  remember 
a fishing  trip  because  of  what  we  observed 
in  nature,  and  not  how  many  fish  we 
caught — isn't  that  really  what  it's  all  about  ? 

My  wife  is  a Pennsylvanian  and  my  first 
job  out  of  college  was  on  a beef  and  sheep 
farm  in  Chester  County.  Ever  since  then 
1 have  been  returning  to  Penn's  Woods  to 
enjoy  its  bounty.  Director  Miller's  edito- 
rial in  the  October  issue  is  much  to  the 
point —for  all  Americans.  Pennsylvania 
has  been  a leader — keep  up  the  gocxl 
work! — James  W.  Chadwick,  Deputy 
Chief  I Wildlife,  Division  of  Fish  and  Wild- 
life, Rhode  Island  Department  of  Envi- 
ronmental Management 


January  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  3 1 


STTT3  CT  PJCTSlXTiSEI 

DOCotUuf1!  S SJGTIOS 


February  1988 / $1.50 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Straight 

Talk 


PENNSYLVANIA 


American  Shad  and 
the  Susquehanna  River 


This  past  year  provided  great  advances  in  the  efforts  to  restore 
American  shad  and  other  anadromous  fishes  to  the  Susquehanna 
River  system. 

The  Commission  has  worked  with  the  Philadelphia  Electric  Com- 
pany, the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  the  state  of  Maryland, 
and  others  for  the  past  30  years  to  determine  how  anadromous  fish 
returning  to  the  Conowingo  Dam  could  be  transported  upriver  to 
their  native  spawning  areas.  For  the  past  15  years,  this  effort  has 
included  operation  of  a small  trap  and  lift  at  the  west  end  of  the 
dam  and  powerhouse. 

Between  April  1 and  June  12  of  last  year,  the  trap  and  lift  at 
Conowingo  collected  7,667  adult  American  shad.  More  than  6,800 
of  these  fish  were  stocked  above  Safe  Harbor  Dam  and  35 1 were 
lifted  to  the  Conowingo  Pool.  The  7,200  shad  stocked  upstream  of 
the  trap  exceeds  combined  transfers  from  all  previous  years  of  trap 
operation.  In  addition,  6,000  adult  shad  were  successfully  trans- 
ported from  the  Hudson  River  and  released  into  the  upper  Susque- 
hanna River  during  late  April  and  May.  All  transported  fish  were 
observed  spawning  successfully  after  stocking. 

Coupled  with  this  effort,  the  Commission  and  other  cooperators 
continue  to  work  with  PP&F,  Safe  Harbor,  and  the  York  Haven 
power  companies  to  conduct  necessary  studies  and  perform  fish 
rearing  and  stocking  efforts  to  restore  American  shad  to  the  river 
system  and  find  solutions  to  the  many  problems  surrounding  their 
safe  passage  over  the  lower  four  dams  on  the  Susquehanna  River. 

On  January  7,  1987,  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory  Commission 
(FERC)  issued  an  order  requiring  the  construction  of  a new  fish  trap 
and  lift  on  the  east  end  of  the  Conowingo  powerhouse.  This  order 
was  also  reaffirmed  on  November  24,  1987.  Hydraulic  model  stud- 
ies have  now  been  completed  and  engineering  design  of  a new  facil- 
ity having  three  entrances  and  800  cfs  of  attraction  flow  is  in  final 
stages.  Barring  any  further  delays  by  the  Philadelphia  Electric  Com- 
pany, construction  work  should  be  under  way  about  four  months 
after  FERC  gives  final  plan  approval.  If  this  schedule  can  be  met, 
the  new  lift  could  be  operational  by  the  spring  of  1989. 

The  occurrences  of  this  past  year  are  significant  events  in  this 
massive  restoration  effort.  Sufficient  numbers  of  American  shad  are 
again  present  in  Maryland  waters  of  the  Susquehanna  River  and  a 
firm  timetable  for  installation  of  an  efficient  and  effective  trap  and 
lift  is  now  a reality.  These  successes  are  a giant  step  toward  restora- 
tion of  migratory  fish  to  the  Susquehanna  River. 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


February  1988  Vol.  57  No.  2 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Leroy  Guccini 
Chairman 
5 Greentown 

Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Photographer — Russ  Gettig 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania 


a]- 

.-J... 

The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Anatomy  of  a Pollution  by  John  A.  Arway 

Commission  law  enforcement  and  fisheries  division  personnel  pool 
their  efforts  with  other  state  agencies  to  nail  polluters  and  protect  our 
resources  4 

The  Cooperative  Nursery  Branch:  Partnership  that  Thrives 

by  Howard  L.  McKean 

The  Delco-Manning  Chapter  of  Trout  Unlimited  and  Delco  Anglers 


and  Conservationists  are  typical  of  this  hard-working,  dedicated  lot  7 

Prepare  for  Your  Lake  Erie  Offshore  Charter  by  Art  Michaels 
There's  a lot  more  to  offshore  chartering  than  just  showing  up  at  the 
dock  10 

The  One  that  Never  Really  Got  Away  by  Tom  Fegely 
The  one  that  got  away  turned  into  the  author's  lifetime 
“keeper.”  12 

Kids  Page  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Take  a close  look  at  these  close-up  photographs.  Can  you  identify 
them?  14 


Winter  Reflections  on  Dramas  Past  by  Joe  McDonald 
If  acid  precipitation  kills  aquatic  habitats,  fish  can  be  restocked,  and 
trees  can  be  replanted.  But  what  about  our  reptiles  and  amphibians? 


Who  will  think  of  them?  15 

Winter  Projects  by  Stephen  A.  Knox 
Fend  off  cabin  fever  with  a dose  of  these  projects  24 

Late  Ice  Is  the  Best  Ice  by  Mike  B leech 
Get  in  on  the  best  hard- water  action  of  the  season  25 

Is  Fishing  in  Your  Blood?  by  Jim  Mize 
Sometimes  you  just  can't  help  the  way  you  behave  28 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17109.  © 1988.  Subscription  rates:  one 
year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1.50  each.  Second  class  post- 
age is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send  ad- 
dress changes  to:  Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 
For  subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  ad- 
dress. Please  allow  six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all 
other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edi- 
torial contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be  accom- 
panied by  a self-addressed,  stamped  envelope.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  re- 
sponsibility for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his 
possession  or  in  transit.  The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and 
advice  expressed  in  this  magazine  do  not  necessarily  re- 
flect the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


A Bright  Fly  for  Dark  Places  by  Richard  Tate 
Parachute  flies  are  easy  to  see  and  they  float  high  on  the  water.  They’re 
just  the  ticket  for  some  kinds  of  trout  fishing  30 


The  covers 

Joanna  Pritts  photographed  the  successful  ice  fisherman  on  this  issue’s 
cover  at  Ontelaunee  Reservoir,  Berks  County.  And  speaking  of  ice  fishing 
success,  now  might  be  the  best  time  to  try  your  luck,  according  to  the 
author  of  the  article  that  begins  on  page  25.  An  Michaels  photographed  the 
lucky  Lake  Erie  anglers  on  the  back  cover.  For  practical  information  on 
preparing  for  Lake  Erie  offshore  charters,  see  page  10. 


Fish  Commission  bureaus  of  law  enforcement 
and  fisheries  coordinate  their  efforts  with 
other  Commonwealth  agencies  to  protect 

our  waterways. 


Anatomy  of  a Pollution 


by  John  A.  Arway 


The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  has 
adopted  the  slogan  "Resource  First,"  and 
our  agency  is  dedicated  to  protecting,  con- 
serving and  enhancing  the  water  resources 
of  Pennsylvania.  One  of  the  ways  the  Fish 
Commission  accomplishes  this  mission  is 
through  firm,  but  fair,  enforcement  of  laws 
prohibiting  pollution  of  the  waters  of  the 
Commonwealth.  A major  source  of  pol- 
lution is  acid  mine  drainage  from  surface 
and  deep  mines.  This  article  looks  at  one 
such  pollution  case. 

Environmental  controls  of  the  water 
quality  impacts  of  surface  mining  have 
improved  in  recent  years  primarily  be- 
cause of  the  Federal  Surface  Mining  Con- 
trol and  Reclamation  Act  of  1 977  and  sub- 


sequent funding  of  state-approved  mining 
regulatory  programs.  But  in  Pennsylvania, 
thousands  of  miles  of  streams  had  already 
been  lost  to  pollution.  These  streams  typ- 
ically drain  abandoned  surface  or  deep 
mines  and  have  their  bottoms  stained  orange 
with  "yellow  boy.”  This  orange  precip- 
itate is  a product  of  the  reaction  that  takes 
place  within  the  strip  mine  spoils  or  deep 
mine  shafts.  Whenever  pyrite  (fools  gold) 
is  present  and  reacts  with  air  (oxygen)  and 
water,  it  forms  sulfuric  acid  and  ferrous 
(iron)  hydroxide.  The  acid  and  iron  are 
then  transported  from  the  mine  site  to 
streams  by  groundwater.  The  reduced  iron 
is  oxidized  by  the  oxygen  in  the  stream 
to  form  "yellow  boy.” 


These  conditions  were  not  uncommon 
in  Clinton  County,  and  in  fact,  many  miles 
of  streams  were  unable  to  support  natural 
fish  populations  because  of  poor  water 
quality  caused  by  the  surface  mining  of 
coal.  Cooks  Run  is  one  such  stream.  The 
portion  of  the  waterway  upstream  of 
Crowley  Hollow  was  in  relatively  good  | 

condition  and  was  stocked  with  trout  since  § 

1932.  The  portion  below  the  Hollow  was  = 
not  stocked  because  of  water  quality  prob- 
lems associated  with  acid  mine  drainage. 


4 February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


that  water  quality  degradation  was  occur- 
ring in  a portion  of  the  stocked  section  of 
Cooks  Run  along  with  areas  on  Camp  and 
Rock  runs.  Simultaneous  investigations  by 
a DER  geologist  and  Fish  Commission 
area  fisheries  manager  confirmed  that  the 
mine  site  was  undoubtedly  causing  the  water 
quality  damage.  The  investigation  devel- 
oped evidence  that  the  water  quality  deg- 
radation had  substantially  impacted  the 
fish  and  aquatic  life  downstream  of  the 
mine  site. 

When  estimating  the  number  of  trout 
present  upstream  of  the  mine  site  and  re- 
lating it  to  the  distance  of  stream  below  the 
site  where  no  fish  were  found,  a total  of 
1 ,329  brook  and  brown  trout  were  esti- 
mated to  be  lost  from  Cooks  Run.  3,447 
brook  trout  from  Camp  Run  and  2,472 
brook  trout  from  Rock  Run.  An  estimated 
total  of  7,248  trout  were  lost  to  the  entire 
stream  system. 

The  water  sample  analysis  disclosed  that 
the  water  contained  iron,  aluminum  and 
manganese  combined  with  a low  pH  (2.9) 
and  increased  acidity.  Aluminum  hydrox- 
ide was  the  white  precipitate  noticed  by 
the  investigating  officers  and  is  the  most 
toxic  constituent  associated  with  mine 
drainage.  When  aluminum  is  present  in 
acidic  conditions  (pH  values  of  less  than 
6.0),  it  can  be  lethal  to  fish  at  concentra- 
tions as  low  as  0.3  ppm,  a concentration 
similar  to  3 drops  of  chocolate  in  640  quails 
of  milk.  Rather  than  being  a product  of 
the  pyrite  reaction  as  previously  explained 
for  iron,  aluminum  is  usually  leached  from 
clays  located  around  the  coals  after  the 
sulfuric  acid  is  produced  and  begins  mov- 
ing through  the  site  in  groundwater. 

After  coordinating  the  case  with  the  DER 
administrative  staff  and  learning  that  the 
DER  enforcement  effort  was  focusing  on 
site  re  vegetation,  the  Fish  Commission  was 
advised  to  pursue  independent  remedies 
for  addressing  the  water  quality  problems. 
A meeting  was  subsequently  held  with 
representatives  of  the  mining  company  and 
evidence  was  presented  to  explain  the  Fish 
Commission's  concerns.  The  company 
agreed  to  pay  $3,000  to  the  Fish  Fund  as 
a result  of  this  pollution  with  the  under- 
standing that  the  settlement  did  not  ab- 
solve the  company  from  liability  for  any 
future  violations.  An  agreement  was  also 
reached  that  gave  the  company  a time  pe- 
riod to  begin  corrective  measures  before 
the  Fish  Commission  would  resample  the 
discharges. 


In  1974,  the  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources  (DER)  issued  a surface  mining 
permit  for  mining  of  about  40  acres  in  East 
Keating  Township,  Clinton  County,  within 
the  Cooks  Run  watershed.  When  the  Fish 
Commission  was  asked  to  comment  on 
this  surface  mining  permit,  our  local 
waterways  conservation  officer  was  well 
aware  of  the  potential  consequences  of 
surface  mining  in  a previously  unmined 
portion  of  the  basin.  He  pointed  out  the 
stream’s  biological  sensitivity  and  the 


Further  investigation  in  July  1978  showed 


problems  that  surface  mining  had  previ- 
ously caused  in  the  Crowley  Hollow  basin 
and  throughout  Clinton  County. 

On  April  6,  1978,  our  waterways  con- 
servation officer  arrived  at  Cooks  Run  with 
the  intent  to  stock  1 ,500  brook  and  brown 
trout  during  a preseason  stocking.  He  im- 
mediately noticed  that  the  stream  had  an 
unusual  whitish,  almost  bleached,  ap- 
pearance at  the  mouth  of  Camp  Run. 

A site  meeting  was  subsequently  held 
in  May  1978  with  the  Western  Clinton 
County  Sportsmen’s  Association.  The  held 
meeting  revealed  that  the  zone  of  stream 
bottom  discoloration  extended  from  the 
lower  stocking  limit  at  Crowley  Hollow 
upstream  to  Camp  Run,  a distance  of  ap- 
proximately 1.5  miles.  The  whitish  pre- 
cipitate continued  upstream  on  Camp  Run 
another  1 .5  miles  and  stopped  immedi- 
ately downstream  of  the  mine  site. 


Fish  Commission  biologists  (above) 
electrofish  to  assess  the  extent  of 
damage  to  a waterway's  fishery.  At 
left  is  a view  of  Cooks  Rim  near  the 
mouth,  below  Crowley  Hollow. 

Fish  Commission  biologists  and  law 
enforcement  officers  observed  ‘ ‘yel- 
low boy"  here,  an  orange  precipi- 
tate that  betrays  the  presence  of 
pollution  by  staining  the  stream 
bottom.  Benthic  macroinvertebrates, 
fish-food  organisms  (far  left),  are 
indicators  for  measuring  changes  in 
water  quality. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


The  discharges  were  resampled  in  De- 
cember 1979,  lA  years  later.  Water  qual- 
ity results  were  worse  than  they  were  in 
1978.  Another  meeting  was  held  with  the 
company  and  a settlement  was  reached 
with  $1,500  paid  to  the  Fish  Fund  and 
another  commitment  from  the  company  to 
correct  the  problem. 

In  September  1980,  the  DER  Bureau 
of  Mining  and  Reclamation  (BMR)  be- 
came involved  in  addressing  the  water 
quality  degradation  and  held  an  adminis- 
trative conference.  As  a result  of  this  con- 
ference the  DER  issued  an  administrative 
order  directing  the  company  to  treat  the 
acid  discharges  to  Rock  and  Camp  runs 
to  prepare  an  acceptable  plan  for  perma- 
nent abatement. 

The  operator  constructed  a system  of 
diversion  ditches  to  collect  contaminated 
groundwater  and  installed  an  automatic 
liming  device  and  a series  of  settling  ponds 
to  collect  precipitates.  The  treatment  sys- 
tem discharged  to  Camp  Run  but  did  not 
address  the  Rock  Run  discharges.  Ulti- 
mately, a diversion  ditch  was  constructed 
to  direct  the  Rock  Run  seeps  to  the  treat- 
ment facilities  on  the  Camp  Run  side  of 
the  operation.  Several  permanent  “exper- 
imental” abatement  procedures  were  at- 
tempted, including  the  application  of 
crushed  limestone  to  the  surface,  lime  slurry 
injection  into  the  site's  spoils,  and  the  ap- 
plication of  sodium  lauryl  sulfate,  a de- 
tergent designed  to  kill  iron-oxidizing  bac- 
teria that  catalyze  the  mine  drainage 
reaction.  These  procedures  weren’t  suc- 
cessful in  abating  the  discharges. 


Biological  sampling  of  the  waters  oc- 
curred in  September  1981  and  the  dis- 
charges were  once  again  sampled  by  Fish 
Commission  Law  Enforcement  personnel 
in  May  1982.  Water  quality  analysis  per- 
formed by  the  DER  Bureau  of  Labora- 
tories showed  that  no  chemical  neutral- 
ization was  occurring,  water  quality 
standards  were  violated,  and  fish  and 
aquatic  life  were  once  again  subjected  to 
toxic  conditions.  Benthic  macroinverte- 
brate (fish-food  organisms)  community 
sampling  showed  that  a conservative  es- 
timate of  17  million  invertebrates  were  lost 
from  the  damage  zone  on  Cooks  Run  alone. 

After  the  survey,  the  Fish  Commission 
filed  pollution  charges  against  the  mine 
operator.  At  the  preliminary  hearings  the 
Commission  established  a prima  facie  case 
and  the  case  was  bound  over  to  be  heard 
in  Clinton  County  Court.  The  assistant 


These  brook  trout  were  native  to  the 
Cooks  Run  watershed.  An  estimated 
7,248  trout  and  about  17  million 
invertebrates  couldn't  survive  in  this 
waterway  as  a result  of  the  pollution. 
This  loss  averages  about  3,000 
fisherman  days  or  about  $105,000  in 
recreational  value  over  the  10  years  of 
prolonged  stream  degradation. 


district  attorney  successfully  prosecuted 
the  case  in  August  1983  and  presented  the 
evidence  to  convince  the  Court  beyond  a 
reasonable  doubt  that  the  company  was 
guilty  of  violating  pollution  laws. 

The  Couif  assessed  a penalty  of  $ 1 .000 
plus  restitution.  The  finding  for  restitution 
is  most  important  because  it  may  be  the 
only  alternative  left  to  restore  suitable  water 
quality  conditions  to  Cooks  Run.  The 
company  filed  for  bankruptcy  in  1983  and 
the  United  States  Bankruptcy  Court  sold 
all  company  assets  in  1984  to  pay  out- 
standing debts. 

The  DER  forfeited  bonds  in  the  amount 
of  $9,940  in  September  1983.  This  money 
could  not  even  approach  the  amount  nec- 
essary to  abate  the  problem  completely, 
so  the  monies  were  placed  into  the  general 
Bond  Forfeiture  Fund  for  eventual  use  on 
other  priority  sites. 


Another  Fish  Commission  field  investi- 
gation in  January  1985  showed  the  site 
still  to  be  violating  the  law  for  standard 
of  discharging  a substance  deleterious  to 


fish  and  aquatic  life.  Charges  were  again 
filed,  the  company  was  convicted  of  pol- 
lution. and  a maximum  $2,5(X)  penalty 
was  assessed. 

A restitution  hearing  was  held  in  July 
1986,  and  the  mine  operator  was  ordered 
to  “make  restitution  to  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania  in  the  amount  of 
Five  Million  Five  Hundred  Fifty-five 
Thousand  Eight  Hundred  Forty  Dollars 
($5,555,840.00),  representing  the  esti- 
mated costs  of  abatement  of  the  stream 
pollution.  . .“of  Cooks  Run.  The  major 
source  of  information  used  to  calculate 
these  permanent  abatement  costs  was  the 
Hawk  Run  District  Office  of  DER's  Bu- 
reau of  Mining  and  Reclamation. 

Cooks  Run  and  its  tributaries  Camp  and 
Rock  runs  have  suffered  extensive  biolog- 
ical damage  over  the  course  of  the  last  10 
years.  Water  quality  has  been  and  contin- 
ues to  be  degraded,  which  prevents  the 
survival  of  an  estimated  7,248  trout  and 
approximately  17  million  invertebrates.  One 
estimate  is  that  these  waters  suffered  an 
average  annual  loss  of  3, (X)0  fisherman 
days  or  $105,000  in  recreational  value. 
This  totals  over  $1  million  in  lost  recre- 
ational value  alone  over  the  10  years  of 
prolonged  stream  degradation. 

Damage  continues  to  be  produced  from 
a mine  site  previously  operated  by  a com- 
pany that  is  now  bankrupt.  It  has  taken  10 
years  of  technical  and  legal  effort  to  reach 
the  final  step  of  trying  to  recoup  some 
portion  of  the  abatement  costs  from  a 
bankrupt  corporation. 


This  story  is  all  too  familiar.  Other  streams 
in  our  Commonwealth  have  suffered  sim- 
ilar fates.  The  Fish  Commission’s  fisheries 
and  law  enforcement  staffs  work  on  the 
waterways  and  see  the  results  of  pollution 
of  this  precious  resource.  The  only  satis- 
faction we  get  from  prosecuting  polluters 
is  the  hope  that  firm,  but  fair,  enforcement 
will  deter  future  violations.  Our  enforce- 
ment efforts,  coupled  with  new  predictive 
techniques  available  to  define  a mine  site’s 
performance  before  actual  mining,  should 
help  us  avoid  more  Cooks  Runs  in  the 
future. 


John  A . Arway  is  a fisheries  biologist  in 
the  Fish  Commission  Division  of  Envi- 
ronmental Services.  For  technical  assis- 
tance with  this  article  he  thanks  Dennis 
T.  Guise,  Fish  Commission  chief  counsel . 


6 February  P-  V„H  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Every  outdoor  activity,  it  seems,  can  count  on  having 
complainers  among  its  adherents.  No  matter  what 
the  pastime,  or  the  circumstances  that  influence  it 
(including  their  own  skill  and  effort), 
conditions  are  simply  never  good  enough. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  7 


As  the  title  implies,  the  job  of  the  co- 
ordinator was  to  bring  together  the  various 
sponsors  and  make  available  to  them  the 
expertise  of  the  different  Fish  Commission 
departments.  Before  this,  sponsors  were 
furnished  with  the  fingerlings  they  re- 
quested and  left  to  their  own  means.  As 
you  can  imagine,  this  arrangement  left  a 
lot  to  be  desired. 

In  1971,  reorganization  of  the  Fish 
Commission  established  the  Cooperative 
Nursery  Branch.  At  the  same  time,  the 
coordinator’s  title  was  changed  to  chief. 
What  followed  was  a rapid  increase  in  the 
number  of  participants  until  there  were 
nearly  three  times  the  number  of  sponsors 
today  than  existed  in  1965. 


Along  with  trout,  other  species  of  ga- 
mefish  are  raised  by  sponsors  as  well.  Two 
warmwater  nurseries  raised  and  released 
over  3,000  largemouth  bass  last  year, 
ranging  in  size  from  4 to  14  inches.  In 
Erie  County,  sponsors  raised  some  160.000 
coho  and  Chinook  salmon  and  steelhead 
trout  for  release  into  Lake  Erie  and  its 


On  the  day  of  stocking,  Delco- 
M aiming  and  Delco  Anglers 
members  (below)  transfer  trout 
from  the  nursery  to  trucks  for 
transportation  to  the  release  sites. 


tributaries.  The  lake  was  also  stocked  with 
more  than  776,000  walleye  fry  that  were 
likewise  hatched  in  the  county. 

For  the  majority  of  the  clubs,  though, 
trout  is  the  fish  of  choice,  accounting 
for  96  percent  of  the  program’s  total  re- 
lease last  year.  The  range  in  size  of  nursery 
operations  varies  greatly,  depending  largely 
on  resources  and  manpower  available  to 
the  individual  clubs. 

For  the  complainers  of  the  fishing  com- 
munity, a supposed  lack  of  fish  is  at  or 
near  the  head  of  their  lists  of  woes.  To 
these  “sportsmen,”  the  Fish  Commission 
doesn’t  do  enough  to  ensure  an  adequate 
supply  of  fish  in  Commonwealth  waters. 

In  50  counties  throughout  Pennsylva- 
nia. however,  members  of  1 55  sportsmen 
organizations  are  doing  more  than  com- 
plain. Under  the  supervision  of  the  Com- 
mission’s Cooperative  Nursery  Branch, 
these  clubs  operate  and  maintain  189  fish 
rearing  facilities.  Last  year  alone,  they  were 
responsible  for  the  release  of  more  than  a 
million  trout  and  other  gamefish.  By  par- 
ticipating in  the  Cooperative  Nursery  Pro- 
gram. the  clubs  have  chosen  to  work  with 
the  Fish  Commission  to  enhance  fishing 
opportunities  in  their  respective  commu- 
nities. 

Records  indicate  that  club  participation 
in  the  raising  and  releasing  of  fish  began 
sometime  in  the  1930s  or  earlier.  In  its 
infancy,  the  program  was  conducted  by 
the  U.S.  Bureau  of  Fisheries  (later  a branch 
of  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife),  with  support 
from  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission. 

When  Fish  and  Wildlife  dropped  out  of 
the  program  in  1962,  the  Commission  be- 
came the  sole  supplier  of  fingerlings  to  the 
participating  clubs.  Three  years  later,  the 
Commission  created  the  position  of  co- 
operative nursery  coordinator  to  oversee 
sponsor  activities. 

The  Freestone  Chapter  of  Trout  Unlim- 
ited is  one  of  the  program's  smallest  spon- 
sor operations.  It  is  also  the  newest.  The 
1 ,500  trout  raised  this  year  at  its  Blooms- 
burg  facility  are  indicative  of  an  entry  level 
nursery. 

At  the  far  end  of  the  scale,  Potter  County 
Anglers  raised  some  80,000  trout  at  their 
Galeton  nursery.  This  impressive  figure 
shows  what  can  be  accomplished,  given 
the  proper  facility  and  dedicated  mem- 
bership. 

Delco-Manning  Chapter  of  Trout  Un- 
limited and  Delco  Anglers  and  Conser- 
vationists are  two  clubs  typical  of  the  pro- 
gram’s sponsor  organizations.  The  5.000 
brook,  brown  and  rainbow  trout  they  raise 


8 February'  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


each  year  at  their  Delaware  County  nurs- 
ery is  statistically  near  the  average-sized 
facility.  The  trout  released  by  the  two  clubs 
are  a valuable  addition  to  the  Commis- 
sion’s own  stocking  program  in  the  county. 
This  is  especially  important  in  light  of  the 
heavily  populated  area  in  which  they  are 
located. 

As  with  other  clubs,  Delco-Manning  and 
Delco  Angler’s  efforts  begin  with  the  de- 
livery of  trout  fingerlings  (small  fish  up  to 
6 months  of  age)  to  their  facility,  usually 
in  late  spring.  The  quantity  and  species  of 
fish  that  the  Commission  provides  is  de- 
termined by  the  chief  of  the  Cooperative 
Nursery  Branch,  Paul  Byers,  based  on 
nursery  capacity  and  available  fingerlings. 
Club  input,  in  the  form  of  a fingerling 
request,  is  also  used  in  that  determination. 

Volunteers  from  both  clubs  spend  the 
better  part  of  the  next  year  raising  the  fish, 
feeding  them  once  or  twice  a day  in  winter 
and  twice  daily  in  summer  and  fall.  Ac- 
celerated fish  growth  during  warm  weather 
accounts  for  the  extra  feedings. 

Food  costs  take  the  largest  share  of  the 
$1,200  annual  operating  budget  for  the 
nursery.  Standard  dry  pellets  formulated 
for  trout  constitute  primary  feed.  Often 
this  is  supplemented  with  special  feeds 
to  prevent  or  combat  diseases  or  other 
problems. 

Members  are  also  responsible  for  main- 
taining the  nursery  pens  and  water  flow 
through  them.  Sanitation  in  and  around 
the  pens  is  also  important.  In  addition, 
members  monitor  growth  by  measuring  a 
sampling  of  fish  on  a regular  basis.  Data 
on  growth  rate  is  included  in  an  annual 
report  that  all  clubs  must  file  with  the  Co- 
operative Nursery  Branch.  Other  infor- 
mation on  the  report  concerns  the  age  of 
fish  at  time  of  release  and  into  what  waters 
they  are  stocked. 


The  Cooperative  Nursery  Branch  pro- 
vides technical  support  to  the  sponsor 
clubs.  Branch  personnel  routinely  inspect 
nursery  facilities  to  check  on  water  qual- 
ity, quantity  and  other  areas  deemed  im- 
portant. During  these  inspections,  rec- 
ommendations for  changes  or  improve- 
ments are  sometimes  made,  most  often  in 
the  areas  of  feed,  water  aeration , or  growth . 
Branch  personnel  are  also  available  to 
answer  questions  and  respond  to  problems 
as  they  occur  at  individual  nurseries. 

At  specific  times  of  the  year,  seasonally 
related  problems  can  occur.  The  hot  days 
of  summer,  often  accompanied  by  a lack 
of  rainfall,  can  dramatically  reduce  the  water 
flow  through  the  nursery.  Rising  temper- 
atures bring  on  the  problems  of  oxygen 
deficiency.  Warm  weather  is  also  the  time 
when  parasites  and  disease  are  most  likely 
to  invade  the  nursery. 

During  extended  heat  spells  or  periods 
of  drought.  Branch  personnel  conduct 
emergency  inspections  of  nursery  sites. 
Should  problems  be  discovered,  they  pre- 
scribe a course  of  action  to  remedy  the 
situation. 

Winter  is  another  time  for  concern.  Ex- 
treme cold  can  freeze  water  in,  or  cut  off 
flow  to,  the  nursery  ponds.  In  the  past, 
some  nurseries  lost  their  entire  stocks  of 
fish  to  freezing.  As  in  summer.  Branch 
personnel  conduct  emergency  inspections 
as  conditions  warrant  to  keep  losses  to  a 
minimum. 

For  members  of  Delco-Manning  and 
Delco  Anglers,  their  year-long  efforts 
are  rewarded  in  early  May  as  they  prepare 
to  stock  the  adult  trout  into  nearby  streams. 
After  coordinating  the  date  and  time  of 
stocking  with  the  district  waterways  con- 
servation officer,  they  begin  the  final  task 
of  releasing  the  fish. 


This  process  takes  place  over  several 
evenings  and  Saturdays  and  requires  the 
greatest  single  effort  on  the  part  of  club 
members.  Meeting  at  the  nursery  site,  be- 
tween 30  and  40  volunteers  carefully 
transfer  the  trout  from  the  pens  to  mem- 
bers' trucks  that  have  been  specially  out- 
fitted to  haul  the  fish. 

This  year,  the  clubs  stocked  Ridley  Creek 
at  Ridley  Creek  State  Park.  Darby  Creek, 
Chester  Creek  and  Springton  Reservoir. 

To  maximize  the  area  of  distribution, 
many  fish  are  “float  stocked’’  into  the 
streams.  This  is  accomplished  by  loading 
the  trout  into  special  bins  that  float  par- 
tially submerged  in  the  water.  A trio  of 
club  members  then  wades  down  the  creek 
with  the  bin,  distributing  fish  as  they  go. 

One  advantage  of  participating  in  the 
Cooperative  Nursery  Program  is  that  it 
permits  the  individual  clubs  to  choose  the 
time  of  stocking,  subject  to  Branch  ap- 
proval. For  Delco-Manning  and  Delco 
Anglers,  this  means  they  can  hold  1,500 
trout  for  release  later  in  the  fall.  By  doing 
so,  they  have  successfully  extended  trout 
fishing  in  Delaware  County  well  into  the 
end  of  the  year.  Other  clubs  take  advan- 
tage of  this  flexibility  and  hold  trout  for 
up  to  two  years.  By  delaying  release  this 
long,  they  are  able  to  stock  12-inch  to  18- 
inch  trophy  trout  into  their  favorite  streams. 

Another  advantage  of  the  program  is 
that  the  sponsor  organizations  can  choose 
which  streams  to  stock,  provided  they  are 
open  to  public  use.  (The  only  exceptions 
are  those  streams  designated  “Wilderness 
Streams”  or  Class  A Wild  Trout  Waters, 
which  cannot  be  stocked  by  anyone. ) Many 
streams  in  Pennsylvania  are  good  enough 
to  support  trout  but  aren't  on  the  Com- 
mission’s stocking  schedule.  By  stocking 
streams  passed  over  by  the  Commission, 
sponsors  can  effectively  increase  the  num- 
ber of  local  streams  where  they  can  fish 
for  trout. 

Perhaps  the  biggest  advantage,  how- 
ever, is  that  the  program  directly  involves 
the  clubs  in  the  process  of  providing  more 
fish  in  Commonwealth  waters.  It  has  the 
added  bonus  of  promoting  an  understand- 
ing of  the  problems  encountered  by  the 
Commission  in  raising  and  releasing  fish. 

The  value  of  these  last  two  aspects  of 
the  program  cannot  be  underestimated.  By 
forming  a partnership  with  the  state's 
sportsmen,  the  Commission  gets  to  work 
in  concert  with  the  very  people  it  was 
created  to  serve.  And  only  good  has  come 
from  that  partnership.  r— — ] 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Prepare  for  Your 

Lake  Erie  Offshore  Charter 


by  Art  Michaels 


If  you've  taken  a Lake  Erie  offshore  charter 
before,  you  know  to  show  up  at  the  dock 
with  more  than  just  the  clothes  on  your 
back.  If  you’ve  never  chartered  an  off- 
shore trip,  you  may  be  wondering  what 
to  bring  and  how  to  prepare  to  get  the 
most  from  your  adventure. 

You  can  count  on  being  on  the  boat  for 
7-12  hours  or  more.  That's  why  it  pays 
to  make  yourself  comfortable  with  every- 
thing you  need.  The  captain  and  the  mate 
will  tell  you  exactly  how  best  to  fish.  Here 
are  1 0 other  ideas  on  how  to  get  ready  for 
the  trip.  Let  these  tips  help  you  set  the 
stage  for  a terrific  adventure. 

1 Preventing  seasickness.  Consider  first 
things  first.  If  you  are  prone  to  sea- 
sickness, consult  your  doctor  about  pre- 
scribing a remedy.  One  of  the  newest  ef- 
fective deterrents  is  Transderm-Scop,  the 
behind-the-ear  patch.  You  press  a band- 
aid-like  patch  on  the  hairless  part  behind 
either  ear,  and  for  as  long  as  three  days, 
you  absorb  a seasickness  remedy  through 
the  skin.  This  item  is  a prescription  drug 
in  Pennsylvania. 

Another  new  product  is  called  Sea-Tone 
(3329  Montogomery,  Santa  Rosa,  CA 
95405).  It  contains  the  same  drug  as  the 
patch,  but  in  a smaller  dose  in  capsule 
form.  Sea-Tone  is  available  over  the  counter 
and  in  some  fishing  and  boating  mail  order 
catalogs. 

Still  another  cure  is  Bonine,  a pill  you 
can  purchase  over  the  counter. 

I’ve  used  all  these.  Each  is  effective, 
but  the  Bonine  makes  me  a little  drowsy. 
The  other  two  do  not. 

Outdoor  writer  John  McGonigle 
hefts  a Lake  Erie  smallmouth  bass 
he  caught  last  May.  The  fishing  trip 
was  part  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Outdoor  Writers  Association  annual 
spring  conference,  held  in  Erie. 
Association  members  boated 
walleye  and  citation-sized  smallies. 

You  can  bet  that  many  of  them  will 
return  to  Erie  this  May  for 
smallmouth  bass  and  walleye 
charters. 


10  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Art  Michaels 


2 Shoving  off  rested.  Most  charterboat 
trips  begin  very  early  in  the  morning. 
When  you're  scheduled  to  leave  at  an  early 
hour,  between  4 a.m.  and  6 a.m.,  for  in- 
stance, make  arrangements  to  sleep  before 
you  board  the  boat. 

Some  anglers  aren't  bothered  at  all  by 
missing  a night's  sleep.  Others  just  can't 
handle  it.  They  don't  enjoy  themselves 
and  their  lack  of  rest  contributes  to  their 
getting  seasick. 

A well-rested  fisherman  can  best  enjoy 
a charterboat  trip.  Know  your  limits  and 
requirements.  You're  ahead  of  the  game 
if  you  board  reasonably  rested. 

Bringing  food  and  drink.  Go  easy 
on  both  for  about  1 2 hours  before  you 
board.  Eating  and  drinking  too  much  can 
lead  to  your  getting  seasick. 

The  captain  and  mate  will  likely  pro- 
vide food  for  themselves.  You  may  want 
to  bring  a small  insulated  cooler  with  sand- 
wiches, fruit  and  a beverage  kept  cold  with 
ice.  I do  this  regularly,  and  I also  bring 
some  snacks  and  a 16-ounce  thermos  of 
coffee. 

4 Changing  clothes.  On  a recent  off- 
shore trip,  1 posed  for  the  camera, 
holding  up  two  fish  that  were  bound  for 
the  cooler.  The  fish  bled  all  over  me.  I 
changed  clothes  so  that  we  could  take  bet- 
ter pictures  and  so  that  I wouldn't  have  to 
marinate  all  day  in  fish  blood. 

That's  why  I always  bring  along  at  least 
one  complete  change  of  clothes.  In  ad- 
dition, 1 usually  show  up  at  the  dock  in 
long  pants  and  a long-sleeve  shirt.  Even 
in  summer,  cool  air  temperatures  and  an 
early  morning  lake  breeze  can  require  the 
long  sleeves. 

If  the  day  gets  hot,  I often  change  to 
shorts  and  a T-shirt.  In  the  hottest  weather, 
I take  off  my  sneakers  and  socks  and  go 
barefoot. 

Don't  wear  hard-soled  shoes  or  boots 
on  a charterboat.  You  could  easily  slip  in 
this  footwear  on  a wet,  slick  boat  deck. 
Wear  soft-soled  shoes  or  sneakers. 

Furthermore,  offshore  weather  can  be 
very  different  from  conditions  back  at  the 
dock,  so  I always  prepare  for  cooler  tem- 
peratures by  bringing  a chamois  shirt  and 
a light  jacket.  In  spring  and  fall,  heavier, 
warmer  clothes,  jackets  and  coats  are  the 
order  of  the  day.  I also  pack  a rainsuit. 

I wear  my  "I'm  a Pennsylvania  An- 
gler" hat  all  day,  too.  It  conveniently  holds 
my  fishing  license,  protects  my  forehead 
from  sunburn,  and  reduces  glare. 


I cram  all  my  extra  clothing  into  a small 
duffle  bag.  It's  hard  to  zipper  it  closed, 
but  the  contents  prepare  me  for  all  kinds 
of  weather. 

By  all  means,  do  take  clothing  that  you 
probably  won't  need,  just  in  case.  You 
know  how  it  always  goes:  When  you  bring 
along  a special  item  of  clothing,  you  w on't 
need  it.  Forget  something,  though,  and  it’s 
the  first  thing  you  regret  leaving  home. 

Avoiding  sunburn.  I bum  easily  un- 
protected, so  I often  wear  a long-sleeve 
light-cotton  shirt  and  apply  sunscreen  to 
my  face  and  neck. 

You  may  want  to  use  a sunscreen  that 
provides  at  least  15  times  natural  protec- 
tion. Even  if  you  don't  bum  easily,  you 
could  still  get  a bad  bum  on  your  first  trip 
in  spring.  You  might  be  on  the  lake  all 
day  in  full  sun,  and  an  offshore  lake  breeze 
can  mask  the  effects  of  sunburn.  If  you're 
not  conditioned  to  exposure  to  the  sun  as 
you  might  be  in  summer,  you  could  turn 
as  red  as  a ripe  strawberry. 

6 Taking  pictures.  A photograph  of  you 
holding  up  your  catch  while  you're 
still  out  there  on  the  bounding  main  is  a 
great  way  to  remember  your  trip.  I bring 
my  camera  gear  for  Lake  Erie  trips,  and 
I store  it  in  a small  camera  bag.  Put  your 
camera  bag  in  a storage  compartment  or 
in  the  boat’s  cabin  until  you're  ready  to 
photograph  your  catch.  In  this  way  you 
keep  the  gear  out  of  the  way  and  you 
prevent  water  from  getting  on  it.  Load  the 
film  the  night  before  so  that  you  waste  no 
time  in  getting  good  pictures. 

On  just  about  all  my  trips  I shoot  most 
of  my  pictures  using  a 28mm  wide  angle 
lens.  This  lens  lets  me  take  in  the  entire 
scene  in  the  close  quarters  of  the  char- 
terboat deck. 

You'll  get  good  results  with  color  print 
films  and  slide  films  with  ASAs  no  higher 
than  200. 

7 Bringing  fishing  tackle.  The  char- 
terboat usually  has  everything  you'll 
need,  but  I sometimes  bring  along  my  own 
ultralight  tackle  for  smallmouth  bass  ac- 
tion. 

Most  charterboat  captains  prefer  that  you 
not  bring  extra  tackle.  When  you  make 
arrangements  for  a charter,  ask  the  captain 
if  you  ought  to  take  your  own  tackle  for 
any  special  fishing  situations  that  may 
crop  up. 

8 Considering  the  mate.  The  mate  as- 
sists the  captain  in  piloting  the  boat. 


and  he  attends  to  the  fishing  details  so  that 
you  and  your  party  spend  time  catching 
fish  and  enjoying  yourselves.  Be  prepared 
to  tip  the  mate  some  15-20  percent  of  the 
cost  of  the  charter,  especially  if  you  no- 
ticed how  well  the  mate  did  his  job.  Good 
mates  work  very  hard.  They  deserve  your 
special  consideration. 

You  generally  don't  tip  the  captain,  but 
do  so  if  he  has  no  mate  on  your  char- 
ter trip. 

9 Focusing  on  eyewear.  Bring  sun- 
glasses. Your  eyes  could  tire  quickly 
looking  at  the  water  all  day  long  in  glaring, 
bright  sunlight. 

1 wear  prescription  regular  glasses  and 
prescription  sunglasses,  and  after  a while 
on  the  windy  lake  they  both  glaze  my 
vision  with  a coating  of  watery  mist.  I 
clean  my  glasses  regularly  and  often  off- 
shore with  a small  spray  bottle  of  fresh 
water  and  a worn  cotton  diaper.  The  soft, 
natural-fabric  cloth  and  the  water  ensure 
that  I won't  scratch  the  plastic  lenses.  At 
regular  intervals  I vanish  into  the  cabin 
and  reappear  soon  with  clear,  dry  lenses. 

You  may  want  to  consider  a similar 
ploy  if  you're  also  a four-eyes. 


Keeping  fish.  If  you  w ant  to  keep 
1U  fish  for  food,  bring  an  insulated 
cooler.  The  boat  will  likely  have  a fish 
box  aboard,  so  you  can  leave  your  cooler 
in  the  car.  But  consider  how'  much  fish 
you  can  put  in  your  cooler  with  room  for 
ice.  Take  no  more  than  you  can  use.  Re- 
turn the  rest  unharmed  to  the  water. 

You  can  probably  use  a little  ice  in  your 
cooler  from  the  boat's  fish  box,  but  very 
soon  after  you  put  the  fish  in  your  cooler 
and  hit  the  road,  add  ice. 

Finally,  if  you've  been  on  some  Lake 
Erie  offshore  trips,  then  you  probably  have 
created  a set  of  do’s  and  don'ts  for  your 
deep-water  excursions,  and  with  each  new 
charter,  you  refine  your  game  plan.  Pass 
these  ideas  along  to  a friend  who's  new 
to  the  game.  Offshore  fishing  in  Lake  Erie 
is  a unique  experience  that  every  Penn- 
sylvania angler  should  know. 


Art  Michaels  is  editor  of  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler. On  his  last  Lake  Erie  trip,  he  and 
his  party  caught  smallmouth  bass  by  jig- 
ging quarter-ounce  leadheads  with  plas- 
tic-action tails  and  by  using  crankbaits  on 
downriggers.  His  two  biggest  bass  that 
day  were  hawgs  of  4j  pounds  and  5:j 
pounds.  He  and  his  party  released  all  the 
fish  they  caught. 


Februan  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 I 


It’s  easy  to  recall  the  hardships  and  even- 
tual joys  of  earning  a trophy — no  matter 
if  it  was  a whitetail  or  a walleye.  Chances 
are  a set  of  antlers  or  a mounted  fish  adorn 
a wall  of  everyone’s  home  who’s  ever 
aimed  a gun  or  cast  a plug  or  fly,  serving 
as  constant  reminders  of  the  ones  that  didn't 
get  away. 

The  more  thought-provoking  memo- 
ries, however,  are  often  of  the  ones  that 
did  get  away,  no  matter  if  it  was  fish 
or  beast. 

Recently  I found  myself  alone  by  the 
fire  in  a quail-hunting  lodge  in  Tennessee. 
Everyone  else  had  turned  in  for  the  night, 
but  the  stack  of  books  and  magazines  on 
the  mantle  and  a half-consumed  drink  de- 
layed my  bedtime  hour.  A fat  largemouth 
bass  on  the  wall  kept  catching  my  eye. 
An  hour  earlier,  as  guests  at  the  quail  club 
toasted  the  day’s  hunt  and  stories  began 
to  fly  like  the  sparks  from  the  pine-fat  log 
in  the  brick  fireplace,  I added  my  tail  of 
woe  of  the  one  that  got  away. 

It  was  1968,  or  thereabouts,  that  my  next 
door  neighbor  invited  me  to  his  camp  on 
Lake  Tinkwig  in  Wayne  County — now, 
alas,  the  focal  point  of  some  develop- 
ment— to  do  some  bass  fishing. 

“Some  of  the  biggest  bass  in  the  state 
live  there,”  Charlie  boasted.  “Why  not 
come  on  up  and  catch  a few?” 

I took  him  up  on  the  offer. 

My  gear,  then  a meager  selection  of 
what  now  fills  my  garage,  was  aligned 
with  my  annual  school  teaching  salary  of 
$6,000.  A tacklebox  with  less  than  a dozen 
plugs,  some  hooks,  bobbers  and  a few 
sinkers  filled  the  trays.  A 6-foot  Shake- 
speare Wonderod  and  a standard  Zebco 
33  close-faced  spinning  reel  at  the  butt 
were  my  all-around  bluegill,  trout,  catfish, 
carp  and  bass  catching  equipment.  In  all, 
about  a $40  investment. 

I met  my  host  at  his  trailer-cabin  just 
as  the  morning  sun  was  lifting,  providing 
a glimpse  of  the  shallow  Pocono  back- 
waters matted  with  lily  pads  and  rimmed 
with  water  willows,  where  Charlie  boasted 
of  lurking  lunker  largemouths. 

After  a cup  of  black  coffee,  we  tossed 
our  gear  in  his  canoe — a beautiful  yellow 
Old  Towne  that  he'd  refinished  the  pre- 
vious winter  on  his  back  porch. 


The  One  That  Never  Really 


The  June  season  was  only  a few  days 
old  and  the  cool  morning  hours  promised 
the  best  of  the  day.  Before  an  hour  had 
passed  we’d  caught  a half-dozen  fish, 
pickerel,  bass  and  crappies.  The  modus 
operandi  was  to  toss  our  lures— silver  and 
gold  Rapalas — to  the  edges  of  the  shore 
and  alongside  the  beaver  condominiums 
dotting  the  lake.  Occasional  casts  hung  in 
the  overhanging  willows  while  others 
snagged  the  pads  under  which  we  knew 
the  bass  were  lurking.  But  some  were  per- 


fectly placed,  and  when  they  twitched  away 
from  cover,  they  lured  the  big-mouthed 
fish  seeking  their  breakfasts. 

Charlie,  too,  used  the  standard  Zebco 
33,  its  silvery,  barrel-shaped  housing  ta- 
pering to  a pointed  head  where  the  line 
poked  through.  s 

Charlie  was  experienced  in  fishing  top-  8 
water  lures,  a talent  new  to  me  at  the  time. 

One  of  his  standard  floaters  was  a green  f 
Snag-Proof  frog  whose  hollow  body  pro- 
vided a reservoir  into  which  water  could 


12  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


3ot  Auwy 


be  squeezed,  enhancing  casting  distance 
by  several  yards.  When  it  settled  on  the 
water  the  hollow  body  released  the  ballast 
and  floated,  long  green  legs  adding  en- 
ticement to  the  soft  lure. 

The  morning  was  quiet  and  windless, 
providing  a picture  postcard  scene  in  which 
silhouettes  of  shoreline  trees  mirrored  in 
the  still  waters.  Herons  waded  knee-deep 
in  the  shallows,  darting  minnows  and  un- 
wary frogs  in  and  on  their  long  beaks. 
Occasionally  kingbirds  and  redwings 


snatched  rising  caddis  flies.  A noisy 
woodpecker  pounded  out  its  Morse  code 
messages  from  some  insect-infested  trunk, 
the  sound  exclusively  breaking  the  quiet 
of  the  dawn. 

We'd  paddled  through  a tangle  of  willows, 
scoring  on  a lone  pickerel  and  a small 
largemouth,  before  losing  ourselves  in  si- 
lence and  secret  thoughts  for  a few  min- 
utes until  Charlie  finally  spoke. 

“Toss  the  frog  over  there,”  he  com- 
manded, pointing  to  a waterlogged  stump 
with  the  tip  of  his  rod.  “Missed  one  there 
a few  days  ago.  Throw  it  past  the  stump 
a few  feet  and  let  it  set.  Then  twitch  the 
frog  right  next  to  it.” 

I pushed  the  black  button  on  the  reel, 
cocked  my  elbow  and  released  the  lure 
toward  its  destination.  But  the  frog  fell 
short,  bouncing  off  the  side  of  the  black 
wood  and  splattering  unceremoniously  in 
a still,  acid-stained  lake. 

Hardly  a ripple  spread  from  the  lure’s 
splashdown  when  the  water  exploded. 

I envision  it  now  as  if  it  happened  only 
yesterday.  The  biggest  Pennsylvania  bass 
I’d  ever  seen  completely  left  the  water, 
arched  its  fat  body,  flicking  glistening  spray 
skyward  with  its  tail,  and  snatched  the 
fake  frog  in  its  gaping  mouth  as  it  again 
entered  its  domain. 

Inexperienced  as  I was,  and  in  a minor 
state  of  shock,  I did  nothing. 

“Set  the  hook,  hard!”  Charlie  barked. 

I obeyed,  arching  the  rod  high  over  my 
head  and  in  the  process  nearly  tipping  the 
canoe. 

“Don’t  let  him  tangle  in  the  weeds,” 
he  ordered,  grabbing  a paddle  and  direct- 
ing the  unstable  craft  toward  the  scene  of 
the  commotion. 

I held  tight,  retrieving  a few  feet  of  line 
from  the  fish,  which  seemed  to  be  gaining 
strength  as  it  submerged. 

For  two  minutes  the  battle  was  a stand- 
still with  the  fish  directly  below  the  boat — 
hopelessly  tangled  in  the  spatterdock  and 
lily  pads  that  infested  the  Pocono  pond.  I 
offered  only  slight  pressure  on  the  8-pound- 
test  line,  knowing  that  too  much  pull  would 
tear  it. 

Finally,  after  eons  it  seemed,  the  fish 
tried  a new  tactic  and  I once  again  felt  the 
pulsating  sensation.  I cautiously  wound  in 
line  and  in  the  clear  water  could  see  the 
shadow  of  a fish  destined  for  the  wall. 

Where  I grew  up  the  only  big  fish  I’d 
ever  caught  were  several  Delaware  River 
carp  that  an  old-timer  had  dumped  into  a 


Lehigh  County  farm  pond.  The  carp  could 
only  swim  a few  dozen  yards  this  way  or 
that,  then  had  to  turn  around  and  do  it 
again.  On  each  visit  I'd  hook  one — usu- 
ally on  a worm  or  bread  ball — and  then 
turn  it  loose  to  be  caught  another  day. 

But  this  situation  was  unique.  There, 
less  than  four  feet  away,  was  the  biggest 
fish  of  my  life.  He  was  hooked  to  my  line 
and  I wasn't  about  to  put  him  back — if. 
indeed,  I'd  possess  him  at  all. 

Again  the  action  stopped  but  the  ten- 
sion— on  my  line  and  mind — continued. 


Then,  suddenly,  as  quickly  as  it  had  started, 
the  drama  was  over.  The  rod  still  bowed 
and  there  was  some  stretch  on  the  line, 
but  the  fish  was  gone.  It  had  used  its  wis- 
dom and  power  to  dive  and  wrap  the  line 
around  the  thick-stemmed  pads.  I reached 
into  the  water  and  untangled  the  monofi- 
lament, then  studied  the  pigtail  curl  on  the 
end,  which  verified  that  the  knot  had  slipped 
from  the  rubber  lure.  Chances  are  the  frog 
was  still  hanging  in  the  fish’s  lip. 

I gazed  at  Charlie,  expressionless,  for 
a long  moment  before  a smile  finally 
cracked  his  face. 

“Big  S.O.B.,  huh?”  he  offered,  not 
really  needing  verification. 

The  rest  of  the  day  yielded  several  more 
bass  and  chunky  crappies  to  boot.  But  the 
thoughts  of  my  lost  lunker — possibly  a 
better  fish  than  the  85-pound  Pennsylvania 
record  that  held  the  top  spot  at  the  time — 
stuck  in  my  head. 

Other  than  the  7-pounder  1 hauled  aboard 
in  Virginia  a few  years  back,  none  of  my 
catches  can  rival  that  fish,  which  doubtless 
has  grown  slightly  with  each  replay. 

I still  have  the  rod,  albeit  with  a broken 
tip,  and  the  reel:  My  kids  have  caught 
sunnies  and  trout  with  the  outfit  over  the 
years.  A few  weeks  back,  while  stashing 
my  tackle  for  the  season,  I came  across 
the  silvery  reel  among  my  more  abundant 
modem-day  collection,  and  decided  to 
“retire”  it  to  a spot  on  the  wall  of  my 
den,  atop  an  old,  cracked  creel  spiked  with 
a collection  of  early-century  lures.  I even 
found  an  old  Snag-Proof  frog  to  hang  next 
to  the  “33” — the  lure  itself  exhibiting  tooth 
marks  from  past  battles  with  smaller  fish 
that  both  did  and  didn’t  get  away. 

Now,  every  time  I look  at  the  rust-pocked 
reel  and  the  green  lure,  I have  the  glowing 
reminder  of  the  biggest  bass  1 ever 
hooked — “the  one  that  got  away”  that’s 

turned  into  a lifetime  “keeper.”  

[7TJ 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


by  Steve  Ulsh 


Write  what  you  think  ^ 

each  of  these  numbered  photos  is 


Answers 

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ton  b to  ttoq  .S 
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14  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Winter  Reflections  on  Dramas  Past 

by  Joe  McDonald 


Clockwise  from  upper  left  are:  an  eastern  gray  treefrog,  northern  black 
racer  snake,  northern  fence  lizard,  four-toed  salamander,  and  eastern 
smooth  green  snake. 


photos  by  the  author 

A huge  low  pressure  system  slid  up  the 
coast  and  the  biting  cold  and  raw  damp- 
ness heralded  its  advance.  Jostled  by  chill 
gusts,  withered  bronzed  oak  leaves  rattled 
in  the  treetops  as  the  tirst  phantom  ice 
crystals  stung  my  cheeks  and  nose  and 
eyelids.  In  this  time  of  stillness  and  cold 
I was  struck  with  the  contrast  between  this 
hike  and  the  many  others  I had  taken  here 
throughout  the  year. 

I followed  my  customary  route  along 
the  cinder  bed  of  a rail  line  where  box 
turtles  and  snappers  had  dug  their  spring- 
time nests.  The  loose  cinders  that  had 
proved  so  inviting  to  the  turtles  were  rock- 
hard  now,  and  the  slight  depressions  that 
marked  successful  nests  and  the  numerous 
clusters  of  unearthed  eggshells  had  long 
since  disappeared. 

Beneath  the  frozen  cinders  a cluster  of 
snapping  turtle  eggs  might  lay,  awaiting 
the  spring  before  the  tiny  black  hatchlings 
dig  their  way  toward  the  sun.  In  May  I 
had  watched  a female  attempt  to  nest,  re- 
peatedly frustrated  by  a slab  of  buried  rock, 
and  begin  anew,  until  a flask-shaped  hole 
was  completed.  On  a return  visit  a few 
days  later  I,  found  the  collapsed  egg  shells 
that  marked  the  meal  of  the  fox  or  skunk 
that  had  discovered  it. 

Along  the  embankment  a cattail  marsh 
fanned,  its  long  grasses  dried  and  twisted 
in  the  late  winter  cold.  The  black  waters, 
once  teeming  with  life,  were  locked  in  a 
two-inch  sheath  of  ice.  This  had  thickened 
with  the  winter,  providing  increased  in- 
sulation for  the  marsh  and  its  sleeping 
creatures. 

Beneath  the  ice,  in  the  marsh's  black 
ooze  dozens  of  amphibians  and  reptiles 
lay  dormant.  Here  the  female  snapping 
turtle  survived  the  fatal  cold.  Painted, 
stinkpot,  and  spotted  turtles  slept,  some- 
times just  inches  from  one  another  and  the 
bullfrog,  green  and  leopard  frogs  that  shared 
this  sanctuary.  Cold-blooded  creatures 
cannot  tolerate  freezing  temperatures  and 
must  seek  shelter. 

Drowning  would  seem  likely  for  these 
air-breathing  turtles  and  frogs.  That  they 
do  not  can  be  attributed  to  the  reduced 
metabolic  level  of  the  hibernating  animal. 
Respiration,  circulation,  digestion,  all  body 
activities  slow  to  a near  death-like  state. 
Their  animal  needs  for  oxygen  are  satis- 
fied by  absorption  through  the  skin  in  the 
frogs  and  through  the  cloaca  in  the  turtles. 
Sheltered  by  the  multiple  layers  of  muck, 
water,  ice  and  snow,  the  hibernating  crea- 
tures survive  the  harsh  extremes  of  winter. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


Above  at  left  is  a broad-headed  skink.  Above  at  right,  a red-backed  salamander 
looks  for  a meal. 


18  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Strangely,  on  an  unusually  warm  mid- 
winter day  a turtle  may  temporarily  emerge 
from  its  winter  shelter.  I have  seen  wood 
turtles  lying  along  a bank,  basking  in  freak 
sixtyish  warmth  under  a low  February  sun. 
At  sunset  or  if  the  weather  suddenly  snaps 
cold,  a turtle  could  be  caught  without  shel- 
ter and  die.  For  a cold-blooded  creature, 
winter  is  the  grim  reaper. 

Snakes,  box  turtles,  fence  lizards,  sal- 
amanders and  toads  face  an  even  greater 
challenge  in  surviving  winter.  Terrestrial 
species  must  hibernate  in  a sheltered  spot 
that  remains  frost-free.  Crevices,  ant  hills, 
holes,  foundations  and  rotting  logs  may  pro- 
vide sufficient  insulation  for  adormant  herp- 
tile’s  survival.  And  it  may  not.  Some  stud- 
ies have  shown  a 30  to  50  percent  mortality 
through  winter  hibernation. 


Skirting  the  marsh  I headed  for  a weath- 
ered stone  fenceline.  The  crumbled  rows 
of  rocks  defined  an  ancient  pasture  of  a 
farm  whose  fields  had  long  since  been 
reclaimed  by  the  surrounding  forest.  Brown 
heads  of  goldenrod  sagged,  contrasting  with 
the  dull  red  glow  of  staghorn  sumacs  that 
laced  the  field.  The  fence  was  quiet  now, 
but  in  spring  it  would  once  more  be  the 
focal  point  for  a host  of  reptilian  dramas. 
A copperhead  den  was  sheltered  nearby, 
and  in  late  May  the  adults  would  emerge 
to  bask.  During  the  mid-  to  late-summer 
breeding  period,  males  might  challenge 
one  another  here,  jousting  in  a test  of 
strength  and  dominance. 

Last  summer,  along  this  jumbled  rock- 
pile,  I watched  the  thick,  shining  body  of 
a black  rat  snake  slide  from  a crevice  onto 
an  overhanging  limb  where  it  coiled  in 
graceful  S-shaped  curves  in  the  warm  sun. 

Black  snakes  of  two  species  mark  Penn- 
sylvania’s two  largest  serpents.  The  black 
racer,  named  for  its  speed  and  agility,  is 
a slender  reptile  averaging  four  or  five  feet 
long.  The  larger  species  is  the  black  rat 
snake,  and  the  unappealing  “rat”  refers 
to  its  principle  prey — rats  and  other  ro- 
dents. Record  lengths  for  this  slow-mov- 
ing snake  exceed  eight  feet,  but  five  or  six 
feet  long  is  more  the  norm. 

Along  with  its  slower  speed,  the  rat 
snake  differs  from  the  racer  in  tempera- 
ment. Racers  are  easily  agitated,  and  bite 
aggressively  when  captured.  Rat  snakes, 
in  contrast,  are  frequently  quite  placid, 
and  some  “wild”  specimens  make  no  at- 
tempt to  bite  if  gently  handled.  Individual 
temperaments  differ,  of  course,  and  some 
rat  snakes  put  up  impressive  displays, 
rearing  their  forequarters  off  the  ground, 
and  striking  repeatedly  at  any  offered  tar- 


get. Disturbed  rat  snakes  frequently  rattle 
their  tails  against  dry  leaves,  making  a 
buzzing  noise  that  sounds  remarkably  sim- 
ilar to  that  of  a rattler's. 

Rat  snakes  are  the  most  arboreal  of  the 
Pennsylvania  species,  and  many  adopt  a 
knothole  for  their  summer's  home  or  climb 
high  to  hunt  for  birds  or  flying  squirrels 
or  bats.  The  slow-moving  rat  snake  is  built 
for  a climbing  way  of  life.  Most  snakes, 
in  cross-section,  appear  roundish  or  oval. 
Rat  snakes  do  not.  Their  belly  scales  lie 
flat  to  the  ground,  and  in  cross-section 
they  resemble  a bread  loaf. 

By  pressing  the  angled  edges  of  its  body 
against  rough  surfaces,  creases,  or  tree  bark, 
a rat  snake  can  climb  a vertical  surface  by 
its  belly  scales  alone.  One  black  rat  snake 
I'd  observed  in  northern  Pennsylvania  for- 
aged daily  from  a home  base  eight  feet 
off  the  ground,  located  in  an  air  condi- 
tioning duct  on  the  brick  face  of  a cabin. 

The  black  rat  snake  is  a true  constrictor. 
Like  the  famous  tropical  pythons  and  boas, 
a rat  snake  seizes  prey  in  its  jaws  and  in 
a lightning-fast  move  throws  one  or  more 
coiled  loops  around  the  victim.  Then  the 
snake  waits.  Each  time  the  trapped  animal 
exhales,  the  snake’s  constricting  loops 
tighten.  The  prey  breathes,  but  barely.  On 
its  next  exhalation,  the  snake  tightens  its 
grip  again,  and  again,  until  in  a few  short 
minutes  the  chipmunk,  young  squirrel, 
wood  rat  or  other  small  mammal  has  suf- 
focated. 

While  still  coiled,  the  snake  investigates 
its  prey,  flicking  its  tongue  as  it  senses  for 
life  and  the  location  of  the  head.  In  most 
cases,  a snake  attempts  to  swallow  its  prey 
headfirst.  Doing  so,  the  potentially  ob- 
structing fore-  and  hindlimbs  are  folded 
flat  against  the  body.  By  disengaging  its 
lower  jaw  and  stretching  the  connecting 
tissue  between  the  separate  bones,  the  rat 
snake,  like  all  snakes,  can  swallow  prey 
much  larger  than  its  head.  Muscles  control 
each  side  of  the  snake's  jaws,  allowing 
them  to  work  independently  as  the  snake 
engulfs  and  walks  over  its  prey.  As  it  passes 
into  its  throat  the  first  ribs  spread  wide, 
stretching  the  skin  between  each  scale  to 
reveal  a gray-white  pattern. 

It  is  falsely  believed  that  a snake  must 
eat  only  once  or  twice  a year.  Although 
this  may  be  true  in  some  rare  cases,  where 
a snake  takes  a particularly  large  meal, 
most  snakes  eat  far  more  regularly.  A rat 
snake  may  be  lucky  enough  to  capture  a 
deer  mouse  or  chipmunk,  or  raid  a bird’s 
nest  or  a bat  roost,  weekly.  The  more 
active  black  racer  may  feed  even  more 
often. 


If  acid  rains  contribute  to 
stenlizing  the  gray  treefrogs 
pond  at  this  mountain’s  base, 
where  would  future  treefrogs 
come  from? 


The  more  a reptile  feeds  the  more  it 
grows,  and  growth  is  measured  in  spurts 
marked  by  the  shedding  of  its  skin.  A 
well-fed  snake  may  shed  its  epidermal  layer 
three  or  four  times  within  a summer's  sea- 
son, repairing  lesions  and  tick  bites,  scrapes 
and  ripped  scales  as  it  does.  A freshly  shed 
snake  is  a beautiful  sight,  its  scales  glis- 
tening and  oily-looking,  yet  as  dry  as  leather 
and  as  smooth  as  velvet. 


Farther  upslope,  the  black  snakes  denned. 
It's  easier  to  find  a hibernating  den  than 
it  is  to  describe  one.  Each  den  is  different. 
Most  are  located  on  south  or  western  fac- 
ing slopes  to  face  the  afternoon  sun.  A 
den  could  be  a crevice,  rock  pile  or  hole, 
and  must  extend  far  enough  beneath  the 
earth  to  clear  the  frost.  Inside,  snakes  of 
a variety  of  species  may  cluster,  balled  up 
and  dormant,  until  spnng’s  warmth  beck- 
ons. Snakes  have  traditional  denning  sites, 
and  individuals  that  fail  to  locate  or  reach 
these  dens  may  die  with  the  approach  of 
winter.  Others  may  not  descend  deep 
enough  into  their  shelters  and  may  freeze. 

Halfway  up  the  ridge,  the  twisted 
branches  of  low  blueberries  blanketed  a 
logged  clearing.  Here  scattered  patches  of 
gray-white  lingered  from  the  last  snowfall, 
bending  flat  the  brown  grasses  and  dry 
fern  fronds.  In  summer  this  undergrowth 
rustled  with  the  scurrying  of  mice,  the 
jumps  of  grasshoppers  and  pickerel  frogs, 
and  the  slither  of  smooth  green,  red-bel- 
lied, and  earth  snakes. 

Green,  or  “grass”  snakes,  as  they’re 
sometimes  called,  are  delicately  small 
creatures  rarely  reaching  20  inches  in  length. 
With  their  vine-like  coloration  one  would 
expect  them  to  be  climbers,  but  “grass” 
more  aptly  describes  their  preferred  hab- 
itat. Although  an  odd  one  may  be  found 
hunting  in  the  low  branches  of  a blueberry, 
they  are  far  more  likely  to  be  seen  hunting 
the  ground  cover  for  crickets  and  grass- 
hoppers or  seeking  shelter  beneath  a rock 
or  log. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


The  black  rat  snake  is  a true 
constrictor.  Like  the  famous 
tropical  pythons  and  boas,  a 
rat  snake  seizes  prey  in  its  jaws 
and  in  a lightning-fast  move 
throws  one  or  more  coiled 
loops  around  the  victim. 


With  a mouth  slanted  into  a perpetual 
grin  and  its  big  black  eyes,  the  green  snake 
looks  cute,  and  a captured  one  rarely  bites. 
Instead,  like  most  of  Pennsylvania’s  non- 
poisonous  snakes,  a frightened  green  snake 
emits  a clinging  musk.  Slightly  sweet 
smelling  and  pungent,  the  odor  may  serve 
to  repel  predators. 

Along  a clearing  I recognized  an  an- 
cient hemlock  log,  its  weathered  trunk  the 
hub  of  much  reptilian  activity  throughout 
the  year.  On  it  I had  watched  rat  snakes 
and  racers  basking  in  the  sun,  and  the 
courtship  antics  of  fence  lizards.  Of  the 
three  reptile  groups  found  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, lizards  are  the  least  common.  Four 
species  enter  the  state  and  of  these  the 
fence  lizard  or  swift  is  perhaps  the  most 
frequently  seen.  Fence  lizards  are  fast, 
darting  from  danger  in  a blink  of  the  eye. 
The  name  "swift”  is  aptly  descriptive. 

Gray  and  rough-scaled  above,  the  seven- 
inch  long  males  sport  an  irridescent  blue 
on  their  throats  and  bellies.  When  courting 
or  defending  territory,  a male  rises  upon 
its  forelegs,  compressing  its  sides  to  reveal 
these  shiny  patches  of  color.  Bobbing  in 
little  pushups,  the  lizard  serves  notice.  If 
unheeded,  a male  may  engage  a rival  in 
battle.  These  can  be  heated.  Males  will 
bite,  grabbing  each  other  by  the  head, 
forelimb,  or  tail  in  their  tiny  strong  jaws. 
Injuries  are  rarely  serious,  but  the  loser 
could  be  marked  by  a lost  tail  that  could 
shorten  its  chances  of  survival. 

The  proverbial  cat  has  nine 
Pennsylvania's  lizards  are  blessed  with  only 
two.  Many  a fence  lizard  or  skink  has 
escaped  death  when  its  pursuer  grabbed 
its  tail.  Snapping  off  easily,  the  tail  con- 

20  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


lives,  but 


vulses  for  minutes  in  a series  of  jerks  and 
spasms,  riveting  the  predator’s  attention. 
With  good  food  and  in  time  the  tail  re- 
generates, though  it  rarely  matches  the  for- 
mer length  and  attractive  colors  of  the 
original.  Until  then  the  lizard  is  without  a 
decoy  and  is  vulnerable. 

The  remaining  three  species  of  lizards 
belong  to  an  oddly  named  group  termed 
skinks.  One,  the  large  broad-headed,  barely 
enters  the  southeastern  counties.  The  other 
two  are  more  widespread.  The  coal  skink 
inhabits  scattered  localities  in  the  central 
and  northern  counties  and  one  southern- 
tier  county,  while  the  five-lined  is  found 
throughout  much  of  the  state  south  of  the 
northern-tier  counties.  All  are  fast-moving 
and  sleek,  with  smooth  scales  that  gleam 
brightly  when  they  catch  the  sun. 

Juvenile  skinks  further  their  chances  of 
survival  by  calling  attention  to  their  tails. 
Hatchlings  and  young  sport  a bright  co- 
balt-blue tail  that  may  direct  a predator’s  at- 
tack to  this  expendable  organ.  Sometimes 
an  injury  to  a lizard’s  tail  fails  to  sever 
it,  but  the  regenerative  process  proceeds 
and  results  in  a forked  tail . 

The  storm  intensified,  and  the  first  sting- 
ing snow  crystals  were  replaced  by  soft, 
wet  flakes  that  blanketed  the  earth  and 
frosted  the  black  tree  limbs  in  spongy  coats 
of  white.  These  winter  snows  and  spring 
rains  would  fill  depressions  and  hollows 
and  the  cattail  marsh  far  below.  I tasted  a 
falling  snowflake,  but  it  was  so  light  and 
inconsequential  that  I sensed  nothing.  Had 
I,  I may  have  tasted  danger,  for  this  pre- 
cipitation may  spell  the  end  of  an  ages- 
old  pattern  of  life. 

Water  is  necessary  for  this  world  of 
amphibians  and  reptiles.  Members  of  both 
classes  live  in  it  and  most  amphibians  re- 
quire it  to  complete  their  breeding.  Yet 
the  waters  that  would  fill  their  ponds  this 
spring  may  be  different,  poisoned  by  un- 
seen byproducts  of  industrial  activities 
hundreds,  sometimes  thousands  of  miles 
downwind. 

Air  pollutants  spewed  in  the  south  and 
west  form  compounds  that  have  increased 
the  normal  acidity  of  rain,  filling  tiny  ver- 
nal ponds  and  sweeping  mountain  lakes 
with  water  that  may  chemically  release 
compounds  toxic  to  some  forms  of  life. 
In  some  lakes  in  the  northeast  United  States 
this  acid  rain  may  have  sterilized  once- 
fertile  watersheds.  Adirondack  fishermen 
rightfully  lament  the  loss  of  lake  trout  and 
bass,  sunfish  and  perch,  and  the  even  deeper 
pain  of  knowing  that  their  favorite  places 
have  changed.  But  in  time  and  with  ef- 


fective cleanup  measures  and  restocking, 
plants  and  fish  may  be  returned  to  create 
a semblance  of  a once-rich  ecosystem. 

I wondered  as  1 watched  the  snowfall, 
who  would  think  of  the  amphibians?  Man 
can  return  his  game  and  baitfish  to  den- 
uded waters,  but  who  would  expend  ener- 
gies and  money  on  the  spotted  salamander 
poisoned  at  his  vernal  pool?  After  the  last 
glaciation,  when  the  land  was  stripped  of 
most  cold-blooded  inhabitants,  a slow, 
ages-long  advance  occurred,  with  far- 
ranging  juveniles  discovering  new  breed- 
ing sites  that  years  later  would  form  the 
base  for  further  range  expansion.  Nature 
took  care  of  the  last  recolonization,  and 
did  it  in  her  time. 

If  acid  rains  contribute  to  sterilizing  the 
gray  treefrog’s  pond  at  this  mountain’s 
base,  where  would  future  treefrogs  come 
from?  Distances  would  be  too  vast,  areas 
too  changed  by  man’s  formidable  barriers 
of  interstate  highways,  surburban  devel- 
opments and  drained  wetlands  to  permit 
colonization  from  unaffected  areas. 

I shook  my  head.  I knew  the  answer: 
They  would  come  from  nowhere.  Once 
lost,  by  our  neglect  and  by  the  poisoning 
of  our  air  and  water,  they  would  be  lost 
forever. 

The  black  pools  lining  the  base  of  the 
ridge  would  be  silent  then.  The  trills  of 
chorus  frogs  and  toads,  the  peeps  of  the 
spring  peeper,  the  eery  songs  of  the  gray 
treefrog,  and  the  silent  dances  of  the  spot- 
ted salamanders  would  be  lost,  a sad, 
haunted  memory  of  a richer  time. 

Suddenly  the  wet  snow  felt  colder  and 
the  late  afternoon  sky  seemed  more  threat- 
ening. I increased  my  pace,  descending 
the  ridge  in  long,  sliding  strides.  I could 
see  the  bed  of  the  tracks,  now  an  un- 
marked white  line  through  the  trees,  and 
the  soft  browns  of  the  cattails  obscured  by 
the  clinging  snow.  I thought  of  the  turtles 
and  frogs  hibernating  in  that  marsh,  re- 
peating a behavioral  adaptation  pattern  that 
has  worked  so  successfully  for  so  many 
countless  ages.  What  would  be  their 
destiny? 

I knew  that  the  wood  frogs  would  be 
back,  that  the  peepers  would  sing  and  the 
snapping  turtles  would  stalk  the  murky 
shallows  again  this  spring,  but  I knew  also 
that  the  day  may  come  when  they  would 
not,  when  the  cattails  would  stand  silently 
and  the  warm  evenings  of  spring  would 
echo  only  in  my  memories.  For  their  sake, 
for  mine,  and  for  the  countless  naturalists 
who  will  follow  on  these  trails,  I hoped 
that  day  would  never  come. 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Angler 

Volumes  Available 

Bound  copies  of  Pennsylvania  Angler 
Volume  56  (January  1987  through  De- 
cember 1987)  are  available.  They  contain 
the  year's  12  issues  and  are  hardbound  in 
black  with  gold-colored  inscription. 

These  bound  volumes  are  offered  on  a 
first-come,  first-served  basis.  Each  is 


available  for  $20  for  current  paid  sub- 
scribers and  $26  for  nonsubscribers.  In- 
clude your  account  number  with  your  or- 
der. This  number  appears  directly  above 
your  name  on  the  magazine  mailing  label. 

Make  checks  payable  to  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission,  and  send  orders  to:  An- 
gler Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Com- 
mission, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA 
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Anglers 

Notebook 


o 


o 


o 


A single-burner  portable  camp  stove  taken 
on  your  winter  fishing  outings  not  only 
keeps  the  coffee  hot  but  serves  as  a handy 
hand-warmer,  when  needed. 

Fish  roe  may  not  be  a preferred  menu 
item  for  some  anglers,  but  others  relish  the 
fresh  eggs.  The  egg  sacs  of  late-season  yel- 
low perch  are  often  chock  full  of  roe.  Save 
them  and  try  them  pan-fried. 

Paraffin  rubbed  on  the  skids  of  your  ice 
fishing  sled  provides  a smoother  ride  for 
your  gear. 

Worm  containers  that  attach  to  the  belt 
(the  type  used  by  many  stream  fishermen) 
are  also  great  in  winter.  Keep  the  bait  in  a 
worm  bedding  or  sawdust  and  attach  the 
holder  to  your  belt,  beneath  your  coat,  to 
keep  the  bait  warm  and  readily  available. 

Fish  that  hit  gently  in  winter  can  be  more 
easily  caught  if  you  add  a strike  detector  to 
your  jigging  rod.  Simply  attach  a 3-  to  4- 
inch  piece  of  small-diameter  spring  several 
inches  below  the  tip  with  rubber  tape.  Attach 
a tiny  bobber  to  the  end  of  the  spring  and 
thread  the  line  through  the  spring  and  back 
out  the  top  guide.  Even  unattended  rods  will 
signal  a nibble  when  the  bobber  jumps. 


Winter  walleye  are  notoriously  soft  biters. 
When  angling  for  them  through  the  ice  be 
sure  to  keep  the  holes  free  of  new-formed 
ice  or  slush  from  the  drilling  operation.  The 
less  resistance  on  the  line,  the  better. 

Long-nosed  pliers  should  be  a staple  item 
in  every  angler’s  tackle  box.  This  is  espe- 
cially true  in  cold  weather  when  a nick  from 
the  teeth  of  a walleye,  pike,  perch  or  trout 
while  removing  a hook  is  even  more  painful 
than  those  inflicted  in  the  summer. 


If  you’re  investing  in  new  tip-ups,  con- 
sider the  more  expensive  windproof,  mag- 
netic devices  that  do  not  have  flags  attached 
to  flat  springs.  They  are  truly  windproof  and 
will  negate  the  possibility  of  painful  slaps  in 
the  face  or  eye  when  setting  them  up. 

Wear  gloves  when  fighting  large  fish 
caught  on  tip-ups.  Pressure  on  your  fingers 
and  hands  from  the  monofilament  line  can 
slice  the  skin  and  make  for  some  bother- 
some cuts. 

Although  footing  on  snow-covered  lakes  is 
seldom  dangerous,  when  the  surface  melts 
and  refreezes  the  slick  ice  can  be  deadly.  Al- 
ways have  available  a pair  of  cleats  to  attach 
to  your  boots  under  such  circumstances. 


A dry  towel  can  be  the  best  way  to  keep 
your  hands  warm  while  ice  fishing.  Gloves 
will  invariably  get  wet  if  they’re  not  re- 
moved before  dipping  them  in  cold  water. 
Use  a curtain  hook  to  attach  a small  bath 
towel  to  your  belt  loops  and  dry  your  hands 
immediately  after  tending  a tip-up. 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state's  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R Miller.  P.E.. 
Executive  Director 
Dennis  T Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Acting  Director 
Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine.  Fishing  Licenses 


BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak.  Division  of 
Research 

Jack  Miller,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder.  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker.  Acting  Chief. 
Division  of  Trout  Production 
Shyrl  Hood,  Division  of  Warmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 


BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young.  P.E..  Acting  Director 
Vacant.  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis.  R.A..  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Senices 
Eugene  O.  Banker.  P.E..  Chief. 
Division  of  Property  Sen  ices 


BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Man  hart.  Director 


BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons.  Acting  Director 
Virgil  Chambers.  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 

Chery  l Kimerline.  Special  Programs 
Coordinator 

Andrew  Mutch.  Division  of  Boat 
Registrations 


BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K Riley.  Director 
Larry  Shaffer.  Publications 
Stephen  B Ulsh.  Education 
Dave  Wolf.  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels.  Magazines 
Ted  Walke.  Graphic  Design 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Mail 


Commission  kudos 

The  Centre  County  Conservation  Dis- 
trict and  Chesapeake  Bay  Foundation  con- 
ducted educational  canoe  trips  for  Centre 
County  school  students  during  the  week 
of  last  October  1 1-17.  Approximately  80 
students  and  6 teachers  participated  in  the 
“floating  classroom"  trips. 

Thanks  are  in  order  to  the  following 
Fish  Commission  personnel:  Paul  Swan- 
son. regional  manager.  Bureau  of  Law 
Enforcement;  Jack  Miller,  chief.  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  Environmental  Services;  John 
Arway,  fisheries  biologist;  Dave  Spotts, 
fisheries  biologist;  and  Joe  Hepp,  biolo- 
gist’s aide.  Without  their  cooperation,  these 
trips  would  not  have  taken  place. — Ted 
Onufrak,  district  manager.  Centre  Count y 
Conservation  District 

Proud  of  a palomino 

I worked  for  this  fish  (below)  for  one 
hour  before  he  took  my  fly.  I started  using 
worms  that  day,  but  this  fish  passed  up 
my  worms  and  finally  took  a size  18  Light 
Hendrickson  nymph.  The  fish  was  white 
with  a bright  red  stripe.  It’s  hard  to  put 
fish  like  this  back. 

1 fly  fish  every  weekend  of  the  year, 
regardless  of  rain,  snow,  or  cold.  I’ve 
caught  and  released  larger  fish,  but  never 
like  this  one.  I love  your  magazine  and 
persuaded  quite  a few  of  my  fly  fisher 
friends  to  subscribe,  and  I recently  re- 
newed my  subscription. — Mike  Casan- 
tini,  Granh’ille,  PA 


West  Branch  inquiry 

1 canoe  the  West  Branch  Susquehanna 
near  Clearfield  from  Shawville  down- 
stream. The  locals  say  the  water  quality 
used  to  be  worse,  but  in  spite  of  the  water 
looking  clean,  it’s  still  bad — no  fish.  Will 
this  section  ever  be  clean  and  hold  fish? 
It’s  beautiful.  It’s  a shame  to  see  it  ravaged 
like  that. — Gregory’  L.  Hosier,  Pitts- 
burgh, PA 

We  have  done  biological  sampling  on 
the  West  Branch  and  I have  done  rec- 
reational canoeing  on  the  Shawville/ 
Trout  Run  to  Keating  section.  I agree 
with  you  that  this  area  is  aesthetically 
beautiful  except  for  the  gross  pollution 
bv  acid  mine  drainage.  It’s  really  a shame 
because  I think  this  area  could  rival  any 
of  the  better  known  (unpolluted)  sec- 
tions of  Sinnemahoning  Creek,  Kettle 
Creek,  Pine  Creek  or  Loyalsock  Creek. 
Unfortunately,  the  West  Branch  is  pol- 
luted and  the  fish  populations  don’t  fully 
recover  until  you  reach  Williamsport. 

Despite  what  the  locals  might  say,  ro- 
bust fish  populations  do  not  occur  in 
the  Shawville  and  downstream  section, 
although  a few  resistant  species  such  as 
pumpkinseed,  bullhead,  and  white 
sucker  may  occur  in  very  sparse  num- 
bers near  the  confluence  with  unpol- 
luted tributaries.  Water  quality  in  this 
reach  of  the  river  may  have  been  worse 
10-20  years  ago,  but  it’s  still  terrible, 
and  because  of  the  huge  volume  of  acid 
discharged  from  literally  thousands  of 
sources,  I don’t  look  for  the  pollution 
to  be  lessened  in  the  foreseeable  future. 
It  is  a pity.  In  the  meantime  it’s  not  bad 
canoeing. — Bruce  A.  Hollendqr,  area 
fisheries  manager,  Area  3 


22  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Chronicling  a catch 

The  enclosed  picture  (above)  is  my  fish- 
ing buddy  Henry  McCamey  of  Media,  PA, 
who  took  this  205-inch,  5-pound,  3-ounce 
largemouth  at  Marsh  Creek  Lake  on  Oc- 
tober 18,  1987,  on  a purple  worm  fished 
in  about  4 feet  of  water.  We  were  fishing 
a cold  front  accompanied  by  a brisk  wind 
that  made  casting  worms  difficult  at  best. 
This  day  we  took  a total  of  three  bass,  but 
Henry’s  lunker  made  the  day  one  to  re- 
member. As  always  the  fish  was  released 
to  grow  a bit  more  before  I get  a chance 
to  hook  him  next  year. 

Henry  and  I get  out  as  often  as  possible 
as  soon  as  the  weather  warms  up  enough 
to  keep  my  old  bones  from  getting  frost- 
bite, fishing  Marsh  Creek  Lake  about  98 
percent  of  the  time.  During  our  season 
(March  to  November)  we  caught  not  less 
than  400  bass,  all  of  which  were  released. 

We  are  great  believers  in  catch-and-re- 
lease  and  we  both  wish  that  more  anglers 
would  put  the  bass  back.  I'm  a policeman, 
and  nothing  makes  me  madder  than  to  see 
some  sportsmen  keep  bass  and  muskies 
under  the  legal  size.  1 sure  wish  I could 
arrest  them  on  the  spot. 

Keep  up  the  good  work  in  publishing 
Pennsylvania  Angler.  It  is  one  magazine 
I look  forward  to  each  month.  As  soon  as 
it  comes  I read  it  from  cover  to  cover  and 
then  read  it  again. — Karl  W.  Keller,  Me- 
dia, PA 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Green  Mountain  stater  talks 

I was  intrigued  with  the  play-by-play 
narrative  presented  in  "Dramas  at  the  For- 
est Pool,”  by  Joe  McDonald  in  the  Oc- 
tober 1987  Pennsylvania  Angler.  Having 
observed  animals  mostly  as  I’ve  come  upon 
them,  I am  always  awed  by  a vivid  ac- 
count of  the  complete  life  stages  of  a spe- 
cies, especially  those  that  are  less  known. 
Amphibians  such  as  the  red  eft  are  cer- 
tainly inconspicuous  to  many. 

Pennsylvania  Angler  is  well  on  its  way 
to  bringing  a variety  of  materials  cover- 
ing all  facets  of  stream  and  lake  ecology 
as  it  pertains  to  Pennsylvania’s  wildlife. 
— Diane  Jay,  Acting  Nongame  Project 
Leader,  Vermont  Department  of  Fish  and 
Wildlife 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


Bait  shop  noted 

I am  writing  to  you  about  an  article  that 
appeared  in  your  December  1987  issue  on 
Hereford  Manor  Lakes  on  Rt.  228. 

In  this  article  you  mention  bait  shops 
that  are  10  to  20  miles  from  the  lake.  You 
failed  to  mention  our  bait  shop,  Carlsons 
Bait  & Tackle,  which  is  located  on  Rt.  19 
about  one  mile  from  the  lake.  We  are  one 
of  the  largest  bait  dealers  in  a 25-mile  area. 
We  have  been  in  business  for  1 2 years  and 
we  are  open  seven  days  a week,  365  days 
a year.  We  decided  to  write  to  you  and 
let  you  know  how  disappointed  we  were 
that  we  were  not  listed. — Rita  and  Eugene 
Carlson,  Harmony,  PA 

yj 


The  Commission  Division  of  Boat  Registrations  staff  processes  all  boat  registration 
materials.  The  staff  is,  left  to  right,  Linda  Helms,  Cindy  Snyder,  Manila  Kreamer, 
Marylou  Little,  Debbie  Nicholas  and  division  chief  Andrew  Mutch.  In  January’ 
1988,  over  272,000  renewal  notices  were  mailed. 


Commission  Receives  $5,000 

The  Ryobi  America  Corporation  donated  $5 ,000  to  the  Fish  Commission,  the  sum 
accrued  by  a 10-man  Pennsylvania  striped  bass  fishing  team  at  last  year's  Stri- 
perama  V.  Kneeling  with  mounts  of  their  award-winning  fish  are  (left  to  right)  Kim 
Heimbaugh  and  Merle  Walk.  Standing  (left  to  right)  are  Joe  Kuti,  president  of  the 
Ryobi  America  Corporation;  Art  Michaels,  editor  of  Pennsylvania  Angler,  who 
accepted  the  check  on  behalf  of  the  Commission;  George  Loechl,  Ryobi' s director 
of  marketing;  and  Stu  Tinney,  editor  and  publisher  of  Striper  Magazine,  which 
sponsored  Striperama  V with  Ryobi.  The  award  was  made  during  the  Pennsylvania 
Outdoor  Writers  Association  Fall  1987  conference  at  The  Chateau  in  the  Poconos. 


Praise 

I'm  an  avid  reader  of  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler. The  day  I receive  it  1 read  it  from 
cover  to  cover.  I'm  interested  in  all  types 
of  fishing  and  boating  articles. 

In  the  December  1987  magazine,  the 
article  by  Ken  Hunter  “I  Take  a Dive  for 
Better  Fishing”  was  very  impressive.  I 
also  envy  anyone  who  can  mix  his  live- 
lihood with  his  pleasures. 

It  sounds  like  Ken  is  still  doing  more 
underwater  research  and  I would  like  to 
read  more  about  his  findings.  1 have  talked 
to  a few  of  my  fishing  friends  about  this 
article  and  they  were  impressed  also.  So 
here  is  one  reader  who  would  like  to  read 
more  from  Ken  Hunter.  Keep  up  the  good 
work.  Art! — Gene  L.  Bigger,  Mont  our s- 
ville,  PA 

Thanks  for  sharing  your  enthusiasm. 
Mr.  Hunter's  been  taking  dives  around 
largemouth  and  smallmouth  bass,  too, 
and  we  plan  to  publish  a similar  story 
that  focuses  on  bass.  Watch  for  it  in  a 
forthcoming  issue. — Ed. 


Winter  Projects 

by  Stephen  A.  Knox 


With  most  of  Pennsylvania  locked 
in  the  dead  of  winter,  boaters  are 
becoming  restless.  Spring  seems 
an  eternity  away.  Take  hope,  though,  be- 
cause there  are  lots  of  little  projects  that 
can  make  those  long  winter  evenings  eas- 
ier to  bear. 

All  the  gear  you  removed  from  the  boat 
in  the  fall  should  be  cleaned,  inspected, 
and  repaired  as  necessary.  Lifejackets, 
flares,  lines,  anchors,  fire  extinguishers, 
fishing  gear — all  require  some  annual  care 
and  now  is  the  perfect  time. 

Start  with  your  safety  equipment.  Check 
your  flare  kit  to  be  sure  that  you  have  all 
the  required  equipment.  Consider  invest- 
ing in  more  equipment  if  you  have  only 
the  minimum  required  by  law.  If  your  flares 


have  expired,  buy  new  ones  but  do  not 
throw  out  the  old.  Though  expired,  they 
are  still  probably  all  right. 

Inspect  your  fire  extinguishers.  Most 
models  have  a pressure  gauge  that  tells 
you  when  to  recharge  the  unit.  Like  flares, 
you  really  need  more  than  the  minimum 
required  by  law. 

Uncoil  and  wash  all  your  dock  and  an- 
chor lines.  Wash  them  by  hand  in  a large 
sink  or  throw  them  in  the  washer.  The 


Now  is  a good  time  to  start  on  winter 
projects.  They  keep  you  busy,  warding 
off  the  effects  of  cabin  fever,  and  by 
the  time  spring  arrives,  you’ll  be 
ready  to  fish  without  delay. 


washer  will  do  a better  job,  but  you  will 
have  to  spend  some  time  untangling.  Either 
way,  give  them  a final  soak  in  fabric 
softener.  It  will  make  even  old  lines 
soft  as  new.  Check  every  inch  for  chafe 
and  cut  strands.  Replace  any  lines  that  are 
the  least  bit  suspect.  Whip  any  ends  that 
have  come  loose,  coil  everything  neatly, 
and  your  lines  are  ready  for  spring. 

Wash  your  fenders,  too.  Remove  any 
creosote  with  Varsol  or  mineral  spirits. 
Replace  the  lines  on  the  fenders,  if  re- 
quired. Finally,  give  them  a coat  of 
ArmorAll  or  similar  preservative. 

If  your  outboard  requires  service,  do 
that  now,  too.  If  it  is  do-it-yourself  work, 
haul  it  to  the  garage.  If  you  have  to  send 
it  out  for  extensive  repairs,  do  it  now  while 
your  repairman  is  slack. 

The  winter  doldrums  are  the  perfect  time 
to  overhaul  your  fishing  tackle.  Sharpen 
all  the  hooks,  replenish  all  the  supplies, 
clean  all  the  scales  and  dirt  out  of  the 
bottom  of  the  tackle  box.  Clean  and  lu- 
bricate your  reels,  renew  the  line,  check 
rods  for  cracks  or  rough  spots  in  the  eyes. 

While  all  this  gear  is  off  the  boat,  take 
the  opportunity  to  give  the  inside  of  the 
boat  a complete  cleaning.  It  will  be  much 
easier  before  you  restow  all  the  gear  in 
the  spring. 

Look  over  all  your  equipment  that  is 
powered  by  dry  cell  batteries.  If  you  do 
not  regularly  replace  the  batteries  during 
the  season,  replace  them  all  now.  Better 
to  spend  a few  extra  dollars  now  than  to 
discover  on  a dark  May  night  that  the 
flashlight  batteries  are  dead. 

If  your  boat  is  on  a trailer,  this  is  the 
time  to  check  the  trailer,  too.  Repack  the 
wheel  bearings,  touch  up  any  rust  spots, 
and  clean  the  light  socket  contacts.  If  the 
trailer  is  badly  rusted,  arrange  to  store  the 
boat  off  the  trailer  long  enough  to  do  a 
complete  paint  job  in  the  garage. 

Any  boat  could  benefit  from  the  addi- 
tion of  small  canvas  projects  and  winter 
is  the  perfect  time  to  make  them.  Several 
good  books  are  available  that  have  de- 
tailed instructions.  You  can  fill  winter 
evenings  with  halyard  bags,  wheel  covers, 
fitted  sheets,  seat  cushions,  lifejacket  stor- 
age bags,  duffel  bags,  T-top  canvas,  or 
even  a whole  boat  cover.  Such  projects 
are  easier  than  you  think,  even  if  you  have 
never  sewn. 

Finally,  plan  the  work  of  spring  recom- 
missioning and  order  any  material  you  will 
need  then.  When  there  is  absolutely  noth- 
ing left  to  do,  read  a good  book.  If  you 
have  done  everything  else,  spring  can't  be 
that  far  away.  1 PA1 


24  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Late  ice  is  the  Best  ice 


by  Mike  Bleech 
photos  by  the  author 


I’ve  always  liked  early  ice  the  best,”  said 
the  fellow  at  the  end  of  the  counter.  “That’s 
when  we’ve  gotten  our  biggest  walleye 
and  the  most  perch!” 

“I  like  thick  ice,”  said  my  pal  Bill, 
who  was  leaning  against  the  counter  be- 
side me.  “There  aren’t  enough  fish  in  the 
lake  to  get  me  on  bad  ice!” 

About  a dozen  ice  fishermen  had  gath- 
ered around  the  counter  at  the  bait  and 
tackle  shop.  It  all  started  when  Bill  and  I 
were  talking  to  a friend  we  bumped  into 
while  we  were  all  getting  bait.  That  friend 
and  I were  telling  Bill  about  a great  day 
of  ice  fishing  we  shared  on  the  Allegheny 
Reservoir,  late  during  the  previous  winter. 

I had  arrived  at  the  reservoir  late  in  the 
morning  with  a few  companions.  There 
we  met  other  friends,  who  were  all  grins. 
They  had  good  reason  to  grin.  They  had 
arrived  much  earlier,  and  they  had  amassed 
as  fine  an  ice  catch  as  I had  ever  seen. 
Their  catch  included  near  limits  of  yellow 
perch,  many  of  which  were  more  than  a 
foot  long.  They  had  an  outstanding  mess 


of  walleye,  which  must  have  averaged  four 
pounds  apiece,  and  they  had  a 15-pound 
northern  pike. 

We  set  out  our  tip-ups  while  they  pulled 
theirs.  That  took  some  time,  because  the 
fish  were  taking  our  baits  almost  as  fast 
as  we  could  get  them  in  place.  We  each 
used  four  tip-ups  and  a jigging  rod,  though 
1 do  not  think  any  of  us  had  five  rigs  in 
the  water  at  once.  We  hardly  noticed  when 
the  two  anglers  we  had  met  on  the  ice  left, 
and  we  paid  too  little  attention  when  they 
said  something  about  a space  of  open  water 
between  the  ice  and  shore. 

We  caught  all  the  fish  we  wanted  in 
about  three  hours,  and  packed  up  to  leave. 
A distressing  sight  greeted  us  when  we 
got  to  the  edge  of  the  ice.  About  five  feet 
of  open  water  separated  the  ice  and  shore, 
and  the  edge  of  the  ice,  for  a few  feet  back 
onto  the  ice,  certainly  would  not  support 
the  weight  of  a person.  We  had  been  care- 
less during  the  excitement  of  the  fishing 
activity. 

We  looked  up  and  down  the  shore  for 
a better  place  to  get  off  the  ice,  but  the 
condition  of  the  quickly  deteriorating  ice 
made  a long  search  unwise.  There  was 
nothing  to  do  but  jump  for  it.  This  was 
difficult  enough  in  winter  clothing,  yet  there 
were  other  complications.  The  shore  we 
were  jumping  to  was  steep  gravel,  so  stay- 
ing on  shore  was  not  a sure  thing  even  if 
we  could  jump  far  enough.  And  the  water 
was  very  deep  right  up  to  shore,  which  is 
typical  of  this  body  of  water. 

The  lightest  guy  went  first.  He  took  off 
his  heavy  jacket.  Then  he  got  a short  run- 
ning start  and  went  for  it.  He  made  it, 
though  not  without  a wet  foot.  He  fash- 
ioned a landing  area  for  us  on  the  bank. 
We  tossed  him  the  gear  and  fish,  and  then 
made  the  jump  ourselves — in  a much  drier 
fashion,  thanks  to  his  landing  area. 

At  this  point  in  the  story  a few  more 
ice  fishermen  joined  the  conversation.  They 
agreed  that  late  ice  can  be  dangerous,  but 
they  also  had  some  good  late  ice  fishing 
experiences  to  relate.  Meanwhile,  more 
ice  fishermen  joined  us.  Somewhere  along 
the  line  it  became  a debate  on  the  best 
time  to  go  ice  fishing,  with  the  assembly 
dividing  into  two  groups.  One  group  was 
for  late  ice.  The  other  insisted  that  early 
ice  is  the  best  time  for  ice  fishing.  Each 
side  had  some  good  ice  fishing  knowledge 
to  back  up  its  case. 

Late-ice  peakers 

Late  ice  is  a good  time  for  walleye  an- 
glers because  the  walleye  become  more 

February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


M® 


Yellow  perch,  among 
the  most  cooperative 
fish  under  the  Ice,  are 
another  late-lee 
peaker. 


W 


Mi 


y 


r 


aggressive  than  they  have  been  during  mid- 
winter. They  move  more,  and  gather  near 
spawning  areas,  making  them  easier  to 
find.  Look  for  them  in  deep  holes  near 
tributaries. 

Yellow  pereh,  among  the  most  coop- 
erative fish  under  the  ice,  are  another  late- 
ice  peaker.  Like  some  other  fishes,  they 
get  more  active  with  the  promise  of  spring. 
Besides  the  increase  in  numbers  of  perch 
caught  during  late  ice,  the  average  size 
caught  by  ice  anglers  usually  improves. 
Anglers  usually  have  to  settle  for  small 
perch  during  mid-winter.  In  the  late-ice 
period,  many  perch  that  would  have  been 
kept  in  February  are  slid  back  through 
the  ice. 

Few  experienced  ice  anglers  would  ar- 
gue that  late  ice  is  the  best  time  to  fish  for 
sunfish,  including  crappies.  Sunfish  can 
typically  be  caught  in  flat  bays  at  this  time. 

Clear  Lake,  a small  impoundment  in 
the  northeast  comer  of  Crawford  County, 
is  a fine  sunfish  lake,  and  one  of  the  best 
pike  lakes  in  the  state.  During  an  early 
March  ice  fishing  outing  there,  when  the 
ice  had  already  melted  from  the  area  near 
the  dam,  a partner  and  I caught  a few 
dozen  bluegills  more  than  eight  inches  long, 
and  we  lost  track  of  the  number  of  pike 
we  caught  and  released.  A couple  of  those 
pike  were  more  than  30  inches  long. 

Pike  spawn  soon  after  ice  leaves  the 
lakes.  Like  most  fish,  they  go  on  a feeding 
binge  before  the  spawn,  presumably  to 
store  energy  for  the  rigorous  spawning 
process.  This  feeding  binge  occurs  during 
late  ice. 

Pike  might  be  the  most  active  of  all  fish 
during  the  late-ice  period.  They  are  not 
always  active,  of  course,  but  when  they 
are  they  provide  a lot  of  excitement.  This 
is  the  best  opportunity  many  Pennsylvania 
anglers  will  have  to  catch  or  see  several 
big  gamefish  in  a single  day. 

Some  of  the  best  places  to  get  in  on  this 
action  are  Presque  Isle  Bay,  in  Erie  County; 
Somerset  Lake,  in  Somerset  County;  Lake 
Ontelaunee,  in  Berks  County;  Lake  Mar- 
burg, at  Codorus  State  Park  in  York  County; 
and  Green  Lane  Reservoir,  in  Montgo- 
mery County. 

Channel  catfish  are  a regular  part  of  the 
late-ice  catch  at  the  Allegheny  Reservoir 
and  Lake  Arthur,  at  least.  These  fish  are 
seldom  thought  of  as  targets  for  ice  an- 
glers. When  one  of  these  hard  pullers  grabs 
a bait  it  causes  some  commotion. 

The  first  time  I saw  a channel  cat  caught 
through  the  ice  was  at  the  Allegheny  Res- 
ervoir, several  years  ago.  It  was  the  kind 
of  late  ice  day  we  hope  for.  The  sun  was 


26  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


shining  and  the  air  temperature  was  near 
50  degrees.  It  was  before  the  reservoir, 
sometimes  called  Kinzua,  attracted  crowds 
of  ice  anglers.  Everyone  on  the  ice  there 
at  Webbs  Ferry  knew  one  another.  When 
Little  Bill  hollered  that  he  had  a good  fish 
hooked,  he  attracted  everyone's  attention. 

The  battle  went  on  for  a half-hour.  A 
dozen  or  more  walleye  were  caught  by 
other  anglers  in  the  meantime,  and  several 
fish  were  missed  because  attention  fo- 
cused more  and  more  on  Bill  as  the  battle 
continued.  Bets  were  placed  on  whether 
Bill  had  a huge  musky,  or  a record  wall- 
eye. Bill  complained  that  his  arms  were 
getting  tired,  and  his  hands  were  sore  from 
the  braided  line  pulled  through  them.  The 
line  left  marks  on  his  hands  that  looked 
like  miniature  rope  bums. 

Finally,  Bill  began  to  get  the  best  of  the 
fish.  He  called  for  a gaff  as  he  worked  it 
close  to  the  hole. 

“What!”  he  exclaimed  as  he  saw 
the  fish,  and  everyone  wondered  what 
he  meant. 

With  one  swipe  of  the  gaff  the  anxious 
onlookers  knew  what  had  caused  Bill's 
surprise.  There  on  the  ice  was  an  eight- 
pound  catfish,  whiskers  and  all. 

There  were  a few  groans  from  the  unk- 
nowing. But  of  course  the  channel  cat  is 
a fine  eating  fish,  and  Bill’s  was  a big  one 
for  this  part  of  the  country.  There  was 
more  to  eat  on  that  cat  than  there  would 
have  been  with  a walleye  the  same  size, 
while  many  folks  favor  the  taste  of  cats 
over  that  of  walleye  . And  who  could  deny 
that  the  cat  provides  great  sport. . .certainly 
not  Bill! 

Since  Bill’s  catfish,  we  have  caught 
several  nice  cats  through  the  ice  at  Kinzua. 
John  Galida,  owner  of  Galida’s  Sporting 
Goods,  reports  that  cats  have  become  a 
regular  part  of  the  ice  catch  at  Lake  Arthur 
during  recent  years.  The  best  method  we 
have  found  for  catching  cats  through  the 
ice  is  with  tip-ups,  using  large  minnows 
as  bait.  The  bait  should  be  set  on  the  bot- 
tom. I like  to  squirt  a few  drops  of  catfish 
scent  on  my  bait.  The  scent,  1 feel  sure, 
increases  my  catch  of  catfish,  while  I have 
not  noticed  that  it  kept  any  other  fish  away. 

Jigging  advantages 

For  most  other  fish,  though,  jigging  has 
an  advantage  over  bait  when  the  action 
gets  fast,  because  it  takes  less  time  to  get 
a jig  back  into  the  water  after  catching  a 
fish  than  it  does  when  bait  is  used. 

A friend  and  I once  made  a wager  about 
the  relative  merits  of  jigs  and  live  min- 


nows for  late-ice  crappies.  My  friend  said 
he  could  catch  more  crappies  using  small 
shiners  as  bait  than  1 could  catch  with 
artificial  lures.  I was  allowed  to  juice  my 
lures  with  panfish  scent.  The  deal  was  that 
the  loser  would  clean  all  the  fish. 

I caught  the  first  crappie  of  the  day,  but 
my  friend  had  six  or  eight  flopping  on  the 
ice  before  I had  my  third.  The  Ashing  was 
slow  for  awhile,  and  my  friend  steadily 
increased  his  lead. 

The  score  was  roughly  15  to  6 when 
the  crappies  became  active.  That  was  about 
an  hour  before  dark,  and  the  agreed  end 
of  the  contest.  We  each  lost  track  of  what 
the  other  was  doing  from  that  point  on, 
until  my  friend  said,  “Six-Afteen,  time  to 
call  it  quits. 

Avoiding  the  mathematics,  my  friend 
cleaned  crappies  long  into  the  night.  The 
time  he  had  spent  waiting  for  crappies  to 
get  the  bait  into  their  mouths,  then  catch- 
ing a minnow  from  the  bait  bucket  and 
baiting  the  hook  was  wasted  time.  Had 
the  action  been  slow  all  day,  though,  my 
friend  would  probably  have  won  the  bet 
in  a runaway. 

For  perch,  white  bass,  crappies  and  other 
sunfish.  jigs  should  be  an  inch  or  two  in 
length.  Carry  a few  bright  colors — my  fa- 
vorites are  fluorescent  red  and  char- 
treuse— and  some  quiet  colors,  such  as 
smoke  or  black.  Tear-drop  jigs  are  pop- 
ular. Other  favorites  include  the  smallest 
Rapala  jig  and  the  Swedish  Pimple.  The 
jigs  can  be  given  a bit  more  action  now 
than  during  mid-winter  to  catch  the  atten- 
tion of  roving  fish. 

Larger  lures  in  the  same  styles  are  in 
order  for  pike,  walleye  and  muskies.  The 
same  colors  will  do  flne.  I most  often  tip 
my  jigs  with  a small  minnow,  or  a piece 
of  a minnow.  I believe  the  jig  attracts  fish, 
and  the  bait  keeps  them  there  until  I can 
sink  a hook.  Standard  casting  spoons  are 
good  vertical  jigging  lures  for  pike  or 
muskies. 

Another  big  advantage  of  late  ice  Ash- 
ing is  that  the  weather  is  nicer  than  it  has 
been  for  months.  What  a treat  it  is  to  Ash 
in  temperatures  in  the  30s,  40s,  or  even 
wanner.  A few  winters  ago,  we  Ashed  for 
smelt  through  the  ice  in  Marina  Bay,  at 
Presque  Isle  State  Park,  while  the  tem- 
perature rose  above  70  degrees.  It  isn’t 
often  that  you  can  ice  Ash  in  T-shirts! 

Smelt,  by  the  way,  are  another  Ash  that 
are  best  Ashed  for  through  late  ice.  PanAsh 
tackle  and  methods  are  used  to  catch  them. 
They  use  the  upper  part  of  the  water,  just 
under  the  ice,  more  than  most  sport  Ash, 
often  over  schools  of  other  Ash.  Smelt 


Ashing  at  Presque  Isle  Bay  has  been  in- 
consistent, but  when  the  smelt  are  in  they 
are  caught  in  great  numbers. 

Safety 

The  major  problem  about  Ashing  during 
the  late-ice  period  is  safety.  Anglers  some- 
times try  to  stretch  the  ice  Ashing  season 
out  too  long.  The  late-ice  period  occurs 
while  the  ice  is  deteriorating,  so  extra  cau- 
tion must  be  used. 

The  ice  usually  deteriorates  fastest  along 
the  shoreline,  and  at  weak  spots.  Weak 
spots  can  be  caused  by  any  number  of 
reasons.  One  of  the  most  common  reasons 
is  something  such  as  a rock  or  the  limb 
of  a fallen  tree  that  protrudes  through  the 
ice.  These  protruding  objects  absorb  heat, 
melting  the  ice  that  is  around  them.  It  is 
fortunate  that  the  ice  along  the  shoreline 
melts  Arst,  because  this  keeps  anglers  off 
the  ice  when  they  should  not  be  out  there. 
Nonetheless,  some  anglers  wade  out  to 
the  ice. 

Beware  of  changes  in  color  of  the  ice. 
Changes  in  color,  or  shade,  might  indicate 
a change  in  the  thickness  or  firmness  of 
the  ice.  Mushy  spots,  where  the  ice  has 
the  composition  of  slush,  sometimes  ap- 
pear dark  because  the  water  has  soaked 
all  the  way  through. 

Stay  away  from  tributaries,  even  small 
ones.  These  feeders  streams  usually  bring 
in  warmer  water,  and  can  extend  a long 
way  from  the  mouth  of  the  tributary. 

Some  anglers  wear  life  jackets  (PFDs) 
onto  the  ice.  This  can  be  helpful,  but  the 
PFD  does  not  provide  anything  close  to 
complete  protection.  It  is  prudent  to  carry' 
a pair  of  climbing  spikes.  Without  the  spikes 
it  is  difficult  for  an  angler  to  climb  back 
onto  the  ice  after  going  through,  without 
the  aid  of  another  angler.  Never,  never  go 
onto  late  ice  alone. 

That’s  how  the  conversation  at  the  bait 
and  tackle  shop  counter  ended,  with  a dis- 
cussion about  ice  fishing  safety.  Bill  would 
not  let  us  get  through  the  talk  about  ice 
Ashing  without  that.  He  should  know.  He 
has  saved  at  least  two  anglers  who  had 
gone  through  the  ice. 

As  the  group  broke  up,  all  headed  for 
the  ice,  somewhere.  It  was  the  general  but 
reluctant  agreement  that  late  ice  is  the  best 
ice  for  Ashing.  But  then,  it  was  late  in  the 
ice  Ashing  season.  Maybe  we  were  try  ing 
to  get  into  the  right  frame  of  mind  for  a 
day  of  Ashing.  Maybe  had  it  been  three 
months  earlier,  early  ice  would  have  won 
the  debate. 

HU 

February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


Is  Fishing  in 


Recent  scientific  experiments  in  genetics  have  proven  that  DNA 
is  still  a complex  substance  and  it's  anybody’s  guess  what  we 
inherit  from  our  parents.  In  fact,  we  may  one  day  discover  that 
a love  for  fishing,  bordering  on  addiction,  could  be  due  to 
our  genes. 

During  my  Little  League  baseball  days,  I played  ball  with  a 
kid  called  Catfish.  Lithe  and  limber,  he  was  a rag-tag  natural 
athlete  who  flowed  to  the  ball.  Wherever  it  went,  he  was  already 
there.  Pitch,  catch,  hit,  he  did  it  all.  His  nickname,  however, 
came  not  from  Catfish  Hunter  the  Yankee  pitcher,  but  from  his 
love  of  fishing. 

Catfish  spent  every  spare  minute  off  the  field  on  a river  bank 
dunking  worms.  Every  other  week  he  was  in  the  paper  with 
another  big  fish.  When  the  geneticists  look  for  a fishing  gene. 
I'd  suggest  they  start  with  Catfish. 

Having  studied  Catfish  over  the  years,  I am  convinced  that 
genetic  addiction  can  be  tested  for  and  those  with  just  a passing 
interest  in  the  sport  easily  weeded  out.  Events  in  your  past  are 
the  truest  indications  of  your  genetic  make-up.  To  determine  your 
own  connection  to  fishing,  try  the  following  test. 


The  Test  for  Fishing  Genes 

I .  Friends  say  you  were  bom  with  a silver  spoon  in  your  mouth 
Did  you: 

A.  Troll  with  it  B.  Eat  with  it  C.  Dig  worms  with  it 


2.  Were  your  first  words:  A.  Pass  the  bait  B.  Mama  C.  What're 
they  hitting 

3.  Did  you  mostly  use  your  baseball  glove  to:  A.  Handle  fish 

B.  Play  ball  C.  Trap  grasshoppers 


4.  While  teething,  did  you  gnaw  on:  A.  Jerky 

C.  Splitshot 


B.  A rattle 


5.  On  your  first  day  of  school,  did  you:  A.  Stock  nightcrawlers 
in  the  teacher's  potted  plants  B.  Take  the  teacher  an  apple 
C.  Play  hooky  and  go  fishing 


6.  When  asked  to  pick  a game  for  recess,  did  you  select: 

A.  flassketball  B.  Kickball  C.  Go  fish 

7.  Your  first  time  on  Santa’s  lap,  did  you  ask  for:  A.  A cane 
pole  B.  An  electric  train  C.  A graphite  fly  rod  and  a reel 

8.  For  your  first  show  and  tell,  did  you  bring  in:  A.  A frog 

B.  A jar  of  lightning  bugs  C.  Both  A and  B with  instructions 
on  rigging  for  topwater 

9.  Was  your  first  Cub  Scout  merit  badge  for:  A.  Fishing  knots 

B.  Citizenship  C.  Reel  repair 

10.  The  first  time  you  were  held  after  school,  was  it  for: 
A.  Reading  Pennsylvania  Angler  in  class  B.  Pulling  a pig  tail 

C.  Roll  casting  unsuccessfully  behind  the  teacher’s  back 


28  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


\bur 


Blood? 


by  Jim  Mize 


1 1 . Under  your  graduation  robe,  were  you  wearing:  A.  A fishing 
vest  B.  Sneakers  C.  Chest  waders 

12.  When  you  dissected  animals  in  biology,  did  you:  A.  Check 
the  stomach  contents  of  the  fish  to  see  what  they  were  biting 
B.  Fight  to  maintain  composure  C.  Save  the  spare  parts  for  tip- 
ping jigs 

13.  Was  your  first  chemistry  project:  A.  Converting  rubber  tub- 
ing into  shock  leaders  B.  A study  of  acids  C.  Development 
of  a secret  fish  potion 

14.  When  accepting  your  first  job,  did  you  select  it  for:  A.  Close 
proximity  to  good  fishing  B.  The  pay  C.  Because  the  work 
hours  were  most  off-periods  on  the  solunar  tables 


17.  Is  your  idea  of  a good  hotel:  A.  One  with  stream  access 
B.  One  with  cable  TV  C.  One  with  fish  scales  on  the  mirror 

18.  On  your  first  date,  did  you:  A.  Teach  your  date  to  tie  Hies 

B.  Go  to  the  drive-in  C.  Tie  (lies  at  the  drive-in 

19.  If  you  were  to  enlist  in  the  armed  forces,  would  you  pick: 
A.  Coast  Guard  for  the  surf  fishing  B.  Air  Force  for  the  view 

C.  Navy  for  the  deep  trolling 

20.  If  you  were  to  bury  a time  capsule  for  future  historians,  what 
one  item  would  you  include  to  best  describe  your  life  A.  A size 
12  Adams  B.  The  Sunday  paper  C.  A branch  fouled  with 
monofilament 

To  detemiine  your  score,  give  each  answer  “A”  one  point, 
each  answer  “B”  zero  points,  and  each  answer  “C”  two  points. 
Then  total  your  score. 


15.  When  you  were  married,  was  it  for:  A.  Money 
C.  Access  to  the  In-Laws’  farm  pond 


B.  Love 


16.  Was  your  first  vehicle:  A.  A jeep  B.  A Rambler  station 


If  you  scored  30  or  above,  you  have  fish  attractant  in  your 
veins.  No  doubt  about  it,  you  are  genetically  addicted.  The  real 
question  is  whether  your  body  has  genes  programmed  for  any- 
thing else. 

If  you  scored  10-29,  you  could  go  either  way.  Possibly  you 
have  suppressed  your  genetic  calling,  or  likewise,  you  were  bom 
with  some  smarts  and  know  a good  thing  once  you  hook 
onto  it. 

Finally,  if  you  scored  nine  or  less,  my  guess  is  you  have  no 
yearnings  for  the  sport  whatsoever.  That’s  all  right,  however, 
because  the  scientists  will  need  a non-fishing  subject  for  com- 
parison to  the  addicts.  Besides,  that’s  one  fewer  pair  of  boots  in 
the  stream  bothering  us  addicts  who  are  wet-wading  in  our  fish- 
ing genes. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


A Bright  Fly  for  Dark  Places 

by  Richard  Tate 


was  a warm  Friday  evening,  and  I 
was  sitting  on  my  porch  when  Donna, 
my  wife,  appeared.  She  announced  that  I 
was  wanted  on  the  telephone. 

The  voice  at  the  other  end  was  one  of 
my  teaching  compatriots,  and  he  needed 
a favor.  Ray  Neirle,  a friend  of  his,  was 
visiting  central  Pennsylvania,  and  Ray  li- 
ked to  tty  fish  but  had  been  unable  to 
locate  any  good  ttyrodding.  Lovely  little 
Elk  Creek,  a tributary  of  Penns  Creek,  had 
been  muddied  by  violent  storms,  and  none 
of  the  other  streams  he  had  tried  had  panned 
out.  From  listening  to  me  crow  about  my 
tty  fishing  heroics,  my  collegue  knew  of 
my  enthusiasm. 

“What  do  you  say?  Do  you  think  you 
can  help  us  out?” 

I was  on  the  spot;  it  was  put  up  or  shut 
up.  “Well,  uh,  my  favorite  creeks  are 
muddy,  but  I do  know  one  mountain  stream 
that  is  still  clear.  1 was  there  the  other 
evening  and  caught  a few  small  trout,  and 
it’s  a fair  bet  that  it  will  be  fishable  to- 
morrow. What  time  does  Ray  want  to  go?” 

“He’ll  meet  you  tomorrow  after  lunch, 
if  that’s  all  right.  Say,  one  o’clock  at  your 
post  office?” 

“Fine,  I’ll  be  there,”  1 said. 

The  next  day  was  a beauty,  sunny  with 
a clear,  blue  sky,  and  1 was  sure  that  1 
could  lead  Ray  to  some  cooperative  fish. 
When  he  arrived,  I tried  to  appear  confi- 
dent. I told  him  that  we  ought  to  take  both 
our  vehicles.  I’d  park  my  old  Scout  one 
place,  and  he  could  situate  his  Jeep  at 
a backroad  parking  lot.  We  could  fish 
the  section  of  stream  between  the  two 
vehicles. 

Fifteen  minutes  later  we  had  accom- 
plished this  and  were  rigging  up.  As  I 
strung  up  my  rod,  Ray  asked,  “What  fly 
do  you  think  we  ought  to  try  ?” 

“The  trout  in  this  creek  aren’t  too 
picky,”  I said.  “They  seem  to  take  just 
about  anything.  I like  to  use  this  tan- 
colored  caddis  here  because  it’s  pretty 
easy  to  see.  You  want  to  be  able  to  spot 
your  tty.” 

Despite  the  near  total  defoliation  of  the 
trees  in  the  mountain  valley  by  hordes  of 
gypsy  moths  the  previous  May  and  June, 
the  stream  was  still  in  deep  shade  in  most 
places.  The  western  bank  is  quite  steep; 


the  hardwoods  had  sprouted  a second, 
though  dwarfed,  covering  the  leaves;  and 
some  of  the  hemlocks  had  not  been  killed 
and  still  cast  their  shadows  on  the  little 
freestone  creek,  making  it  difficult  to  fol- 
low a fly  on  the  water. 

As  I had  advertised,  the  little  creek  was 
clear  and  in  good  fishing  shape;  and  when 
I looked  upstream  and  spotted  a trout  feed- 
ing on  its  own,  I got  the  itch  to  get  going! 

D . is  a veteran  flyrodder.  His  com- 
I\UU  mon  experiences  with  trout  and 
salmon  are  in  famed  places  that  are  mere 
names  to  me.  He  was  also  enthused.  He 
had  fished  quite  a few  freestone  streams 
and  noted  that  the  trout  in  these  little  free- 
stoners  almost  have  to  eat  every  edible 
morsel  of  food  that  they  see.  He  was  sure 
that  there  would  be  more  than  just  one 
feeding  trout!  After  he  had  rummaged 
through  his  tty  box,  he  settled  on  a par- 
achute-style Adams  with  a white  wing.  “1 
can  see  this,"  he  said  confidently. 

We  decided  to  fish  alternate  pools  and 
pockets  of  the  little  creek,  which  averaged 
only  12  to  15  feet  in  width.  I gave  Ray 
the  first  shot  at  the  fish  we  had  seen  feed- 
ing, and  he  promptly  raised,  hooked,  and 
landed  it.  It  was  a 10-inch  brown  trout,  a 
typical  fish  from  this  little  stream.  As  the 
afternoon  progressed,  Ray  and  I each  landed 
several  more  brownies  and  interested  quite 
a few  others. 

During  our  breaks  for  draughts  of  cold 
lemonade,  Ray’s  tales  of  salmon  fishing 
on  the  Mirimichi,  dealings  with  trout  on 
large  streams  of  the  West,  and  angling  on 
Pennsylvania  streams  that  I have  never 
visited  helped  to  make  this  trip  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  I had  enjoyed  during  the 
season.  Truth  be  told,  I was  sorry  to  see 
the  afternoon  end. 

As  I shared  the  day’s  events  with  Donna 
that  evening,  she  was  delighted  that  we 
had  caught  some  trout,  but  when  I told 
her  about  Ray’s  marvelous  little  parachute 
flies  that  had  outperformed  my  trusty  cad- 
dis, she  had  no  idea  what  they  were.  “Do 
they  jump  out  of  airplanes?”  she  asked. 

When  I attempted  to  explain  to  her  what 
a parachute  fly  was,  I found  myself  unable 
to  describe  one  appropriately.  Finally,  in 


exasperation,  I blurted,  “Wait  right  here! 
I'll  go  and  tie  one!” 


decided  to  construct  a parachute  fly 
similar  to  the  one  Ray  had  used  on  our 
venture.  Even  though  I am  not  a partic- 
ularly deft  fly  tyer,  it  took  me  less  than 
five  minutes  to  whip  up  a parachute  Ad- 
ams with  a white  wing.  When  I showed 
Donna  my  finished  product  beside  a stan- 
dard fly,  she  easily  noted  the  difference, 
though  she  was  not  particularly  impressed. 

I had  nothing  else  to  do,  so  I fashioned 
a half-dozen  more  of  the  gray  parachute 
flies.  They  looked  all  right,  though  not  as 
immaculate  as  Ray’s  had  been,  and  I was 
anxious  to  try  them.  Before  bedding  down 
for  the  night,  1 announced  to  Donna  that 
the  next  morning  I was  going  back  to  the 
little  forest  creek  Ray  and  1 had  shared 
that  afternoon. 

I arrived  at  the  stream  at  8:30  the  next 
morning.  A haze  still  hung  over  the  valley. 
Hesitantly  I removed  the  caddis  Fd  used 
the  previous  afternoon — I am  reluctant  to 
vary  from  the  tried  and  true — and  replaced 
it  with  one  of  the  little  gray  parachutes. 
Each  pocket  of  water  I approached  held 
trout,  and  though  they  were  spooky  after 
an  entire  season  of  being  pestered  by  rod- 
waving  humans,  1 was  able  to  get  the  fly 
over  most  of  the  trout  I spotted  first. 

I had  no  trouble  raising  trout.  During 
the  two  hours  I was  astream,  I caught  and 
released  nearly  a dozen  trout  ranging  from 
eight  to  15  inches,  all  brown  trout.  Ad- 
mittedly, most  of  these  appeared  to  be 
trout  that  had  been  stocked  earlier  in  the 
season,  though  they  were  coloring  up  after 
a summer  in  the  stream. 

However,  I did  manage  to  fool  a few 
wild  trout  with  butter-yellow  bellies  and 
crimson  spots  splattered  along  their  gray- 
ish flanks,  including  the  day’s  largest  fish. 
He  had  been  lying  in  a deep  pool,  by  this 
stream’s  standards,  perhaps  three  feet  deep. 
The  left  bank,  facing  upstream,  buttressed 
the  flow  of  the  water,  which  in  mid-pool 
snuggled  under  the  roots  of  an  old  hem- 
lock tree.  The  trout  was  actively  rising, 
for  what  I'll  never  know,  and  1 gingerly 
tossed  him  my  fly.  I could  see  him  delib- 
erately lift  from  the  pebbly  bottom,  back 


30  February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


An  angler  can  see  a parachute  fly  well. 
So  can  the  fish. 


under  my  fraud,  and  gently  engulf  the  little 
gray  parachute. 

When  1 flicked  my  wrist  to  set  the  hook, 
the  little  pool  erupted  violently  as  the  fish 
angrily  exhibited  his  displeasure  at  being 
fooled.  The  trout,  though  wild  and  beau- 
tifully colored,  was  not  overly  bright  and 
never  attempted  to  entangle  me  in  the  roots 
of  the  hemlock.  Instead  he  swam  in  a dis- 
orderly fashion  throughout  the  pool,  once 
nearly  running  aground  on  a small  sand- 
bar. Less  than  five  minutes  after  I had 
hooked  him,  I had  the  gleaming  trout  sag- 
ging in  my  net.  I grinned  with  satisfaction 
when  1 released  the  hook-jawed  male 
brownie. 


/have  fished  with  the  little  white-winged, 
gray-bodied  parachute  flies  many  more 
times  on  the  mountain  valley  stream  since 
that  autumn  weekend,  and  the  freestone 
brownies  accept  the  highly  visible  flies  as 
readily  as  they  rise  to  any  other  flies  that 
I have  used  there.  In  fact,  last  season  I 
didn't  even  bother  with  other  flies.  The 
parachutes  had  established  themselves  as 
my  favorite  medicine  there. 

Why?  As  I have  noted,  the  parachute 
flies  are  easy  to  see.  The  white  wing  that 
tops  them  stands  up  like  the  sail  of  a boat 
and  is  easy  to  pick  up  on  the  shadowed 
water  where  I sometimes  have  difficulty 
following  the  progress  of  even  a jaunty 
caddis.  In  addition,  once  I began  to  use 
oversized  hackle  in  constructing  the  flies, 
they  almost  never  tipped  over,  landing  and 
floating  perfectly. 

I have  used  the  parachute  flies  in  only 
the  gray-white  pattern  on  the  little  moun- 
tain creek,  but  I have  found  all-white  par- 
achute flies  useful  on  other  streams.  They 
are  readily  spotted  at  dusk  when  even  Cream 
Variants  are  tough  to  see,  and  I have  caught 
several  trout  on  them  when  the  fish  were 
rising  to  late-hatching  mayflies. 

However,  my  major  use  for  parachute- 
style  flies  comes  in  late  summer  and  early 
autumn  on  shaded,  wooded  stream  sec- 
tions where  being  able  to  see  a fly  is  a 
real  premium.  If  you  are  searching  for  a 
fly  to  use  in  these  dark  places,  why  not 
give  a few  white- winged  parachute  flies  a 
try  ? If  you  do.  I'll  bet  that  you,  too,  will 
be  converted  by  their  high  visibility,  good 
floating  qualities,  and  effectiveness  in  en- 
ticing hungry  trout  to  rise. 


February  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


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Straight 

Talk 


Support 

Our 

Wild  Resources 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


Most  of  us  now  face  the  unpleasant  task  of  preparing  and  filing  our  1987  income 
tax  returns.  Fortunately,  we  Pennsylvanians  can  at  least  feel  good  about  our  state 
return  because  we  can  earmark  cash  for  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Fund  through 
an  approved  tax  checkoff  on  the  state  income  tax  form. 

The  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Act  (Act  1982-170)  was  created  to  aid  the 
conservation  of  Pennsylvania’s  flora  and  fauna.  It  went  into  effect  on  January  I,  1983. 
The  Act  directs  the  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Revenue  to  provide  a space  on  the 
Pennsylvania  individual  income  tax  form  whereby  individual  taxpayers  may  voluntarily 
designate  all  or  part  of  their  entitled  tax  refund  to  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation 
Fund.  At  the  end  of  each  year,  these  funds  are  transferred  to  the  special  Wild 
Resource  Conservation  Fund. 

In  addition,  voluntary  contributions  can  also  be  added  to  the  Fund  balance,  along 
with  interest  on  investment  securities  and  proceeds  from  the  sales  of  films,  publications 
and  other  items  generated  by  the  program.  During  the  past  year,  income  from  the  tax 
checkoff  was  $609,663  from  178,000  taxpayers,  an  average  of  $3.42  per  return. 

Direct  contributions  for  1987  totaled  $14,421.  Total  income  reached  $700,000. 

The  special  Fund  is  administered  by  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Board,  which 
consists  of  the  secretary  of  the  Department  of  Environmental  Resources,  the  executive 
director  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  the  executive  director  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Game  Commission,  the  majority  and  minority  chairmen  of  the  House 
Conservation  Committee,  and  the  majority  and  minority  chairmen  of  the  Senate 
Environmental  Resources  and  Energy  Committee.  Senator  Raphael  Musto  served  as 
chairman  of  this  Board  during  1987,  and  I have  been  elected  chairman  for  1988. 

Mr.  Frank  Felbaum  is  executive  director  of  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Fund 
and  administers  all  routine  business  and  operational  activities  of  the  organization. 

The  Board  and  the  executive  director  are  also  guided  by  a 10-member  advisory 
committee,  public  citizens  chosen  by  the  Board  to  advise  the  Board  and  make 
recommendations  regarding  program  objectives. 

These  special  funds  are  earmarked  for  supporting  the  management  of  Pennsylvania’s 
wild  resources.  Most  of  the  money  is  used  to  fund  environmental  education  efforts  and 
research  studies  on  plant  life  and  nongame  fish  and  wildlife.  These  projects  and  studies 
are  selected  by  the  Board  from  projects  proposed  by  the  Commonwealth’s  resource 
agencies. 

Some  of  the  projects  currently  in  progress  that  are  of  special  interest  to  the  Fish 
Commission  include  status  surveys  of  endangered  and  threatened  amphibians  and 
reptiles,  conducted  by  the  Carnegie  Museum’s  Amphibians  and  Reptiles  Section,  and  a 
study  of  nongame  fishes  of  eastern  Pennsylvania,  conducted  by  the  School  of  Forest 
Resources,  Pennsylvania  State  University. 

The  Commission  is  also  involved  in  many  other  projects,  and  the  Pennsylvania 
Department  of  Environmental  Resources  and  the  Pennsylvania  Game  Commission  also 
coordinate  efforts  on  native  wild  plants  and  nongame  wildlife. 

On  June  12-14,  1987,  the  Board  sponsored  the  first  Pennsylvania  Wild  Resources 
Conference  at  Keller  Conference  Center  on  the  campus  of  Penn  State  University.  It 
was  my  pleasure  to  participate  in  this  conference,  and  I was  impressed  by  the  efforts 
of  those  who  planned  the  conference,  the  volunteer  speakers  and  the  session  leaders.  I 
was  especially  pleased  by  the  high  level  of  interest  among  those  in  attendance.  All 
who  were  involved  thought  the  conference  was  a huge  success,  and  it  provides 
testimony  to  the  level  of  interest  and  widespread  support  for  the  efforts  of  the  Wild 
Resource  Conservation  Board  and  its  programs. 

The  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Fund  and  the  work  accomplished  under  the 
direction  of  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Board  have  been  an  outstanding  success 
and  a major  contribution  to  protection  and  enhancement  of  the  natural  resources  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

I urge  you  to  join  with  the  178,000  Pennsylvania  taxpayers  who  supported  this 
effort  last,  year.  I encourage  you  to  designate  your  state  income  tax  refund  to  this 
program.  If  you  anticipate  no  Pennsylvania  tax  refund,  please  make  a direct  financial 
contribution.  Contributions  should  be  sent  to  the  Wild  Resource  Conservation  Fund, 
P.O.  Box  1467,  Harrisburg,  PA  17120.  The  wild  plants  and  nongame  fish  and  wildlife 
of  Pennsylvania  deserve  your  support. 


March  1988  Vol.  57  A 'o.  3 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 


Pennsylvania 

ANG 


The  Keystone  State’s  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Springtime  is  Nest  Time  by  Linda  Steiner 

Some  Pennsylvania  fish  show  ingenious  nesting  behavior  4 

Sharing  the  Stream  by  Kenneth  J.  Stairs 
Each  spring,  some  harmless  snakes  are  mistaken  for  poisonous 
species  6 

Conewango  ...  A Sleeping  Giant  by  Roger  Dalo 

You  can  unlock  this  waterway's  secret  with  two  words:  live  bait  8 

Kids  Page  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Take  a close  look  at  muskies  (but  watch  out  for  their  teeth)  11 

The  Muskrat  Nymph  by  Chauncy  K.  Lively 
Try  these  fresh  ideas  on  tying  a common  Keystone  State  fly  12 


Boating  Advisory  Board 

Leroy  Guccini 
Chairman 
Greentown 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Photographer — Russ  Gettig 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN003M34X)  is  published  monthly 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17109.  0 1988.  Subscription  rates:  one 
year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1 .50  each.  Second  class  post- 
age is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send  ad- 
dress changes  to:  Angler  Circulation.  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 
For  subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  ad- 
dress. Please  allow  six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all 
other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edi- 
torial contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be  accom- 
panied by  a self-addressed,  stamped  envelope.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  re- 
sponsibility for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his 
possession  or  in  transit.  The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and 
advice  expressed  in  this  magazine  do  not  necessarily  re- 
flect the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


Why  Take  a Youngster  Fishing?  by  Bill  Einsig 

Fishing  offers  more  opportunities  than  you  might  think  14 

Make  Your  Own  Shad  Darts  by  Dennis  Scholl 
Now’s  the  time  to  gather  materials  and  crank  out  a few  dozen 
darts  16 

Smooth  Trailering  on  the  Long  Haul  by  Art  Michaels 

You  save  time  and  money  by  carrying  the  right  tools  and  spare  parts 
and  knowing  how  to  use  them  20 

Perch-Type  Lures  by  Kermit  G.  Henning 
Gamefish  often  target  perch,  so  stocking  up  on  perch-like  lures  makes 
sense  23 

Crankbait  Tips  by  J.  B.  Kasper 

Work  your  crankbaits  better,  catch  more  fish  24 

The  Magic  of  Mud  Run  by  George  Smith 

Mud  Run,  in  Carbon  County,  offers  good  fishing  for  anglers  who  can't 
wait  for  opening  day  26 


The  covers 

This  month’s  front-cover  father-son  fishing  team  was  photographed  by  Joe 
Reynolds.  If  you’d  like  to  achieve  similar  success,  check  out  this  issue's 
wealth  of  ideas.  If  you  fish  for  shad,  please  see  page  16.  If  lure  fishing  is 
your  forte,  please  look  over  pages  23  and  24.  If  you  just  can’t  wait  for 
opening  day,  turn  to  page  26,  and  if  you  trailer  a boat,  check  out  page  20. 
This  issue’s  back-cover  portrait  was  photographed  by  Jim  Bashline. 


Springtime  is 


(tW? 


IV, k 


gi) 

a 

*hus  MiX 


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;v-4*»a--.  .^4  i\„y.  .--  v.; »' 

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In  surburban  backyards  and  in  the  woods 
and  fields,  birds  are  building  their  spring- 
time nests.  In  the  lakes  and  stream,  spring 
is  also  nesting  time  for  fishes.  Though  few 
take  as  much  care  as  birds,  many  have 
nesting  and  parental  duties  that  show  how 
prudent  the  finny  creatures  can  be  at  pro- 
viding for  a new  generation. 

Some  fish  spend  hours  or  days  con- 
structing nests  and  are  particular  about  time, 
place  and  water  temperature.  Others  guard 
their  eggs  and  young  diligently,  while  a 
few  seem  to  abandon  their  spawn  com- 
pletely. Attention  to  nesting  and  “baby 
care”  vanes  from  one  type  of  fish  to  the 
next,  but  some  of  our  Pennsylvania  spe- 
cies show  remarkable,  if  not  ingenious, 
behavior.  Anglers  may  have  noticed  this 
without  realizing  what  the  fish’s  actions 
meant,  and  have  probably  seen  the  fish 
nest  structures  without  recognizing  them 
as  nurseries  for  future  I linkers. 

One  uncommon  fish  comes  closer  than 
any  to  imitating  underwater  what  the  birds 
are  doing  above.  It’s  the  brook  stickle- 
back, an  olive-green  minnow-like  fish  that 
carries  sharp  spines  on  its  back.  The  male 
stickleback  is  a “tempest  in  a teacup’’ 
around  its  nest  at  spawning  time,  fero- 
ciously driving  off  intruders.  In  spring  it 
makes  a round,  golf  ball  size  nest  of  plant 
libers  in  a sheltered,  weedy  spot.  The  nest 
is  hollow  with  an  opening  at  either  end. 
Females  enter  by  one  “door”  to  spawn 
and  leave  by  the  other,  until  the  nest  is 
filled  with  eggs.  The  male  stickleback  fer- 
tilizes the  eggs,  stands  guard,  keeps  the 
nest  in  repair  and  fans  the  eggs  to  circulate 
water  around  them.  After  the  baby  fish 
hatch,  the  father  protects  them  at  the  nest 
until  they  swim  off,  like  fledglings  that 
have  found  their  “wings.” 

Nest  materials 

Few  birds  make  nests  out  of  stones  or 
gravel,  but  these  are  common  materials  of 
fish  nests.  Minnows  like  fall  fish,  stone- 
rollers,  creek  chubs  and  blacknose  dace 
build  nests  of  stones  in  the  quiet  parts  of 
streams.  The  nests  begin  as  depressions  in 
the  gravel  made  by  the  male  fish,  into 
which  the  females  lay  their  eggs,  and  end 
up  as  groupings  of  rock  mounds.  The  male 
covers  the  eggs  with  a pile  of  gravel,  car- 
rying each  stone  individually  to  the  site  in 
his  mouth. 

A fallrtsh’s  nest  mounds  may  be  up  to 
five  feet  in  diameter  and  two  to  three  feet 
high.  The  ambitious  creek  chub,  carrying 
smaller  stones,  makes  more  and  bigger 
mounds.  Hidden  safely  in  the  space  be- 
tween the  rocks,  the  eggs  and  young 

4 March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


hatchlings  are  protected  from  the  many 
denizens  of  the  stream  that  would  eat  them. 
These  gravel  piles  are  a common  spring 
sight  in  many  of  the  state’s  freestone 
streams,  though  fishermen  often  fail  to 
recognize  them  as  the  work  of  fish. 

Trout 

Trout,  too,  nest  in  gravel,  but  they  use 
a different  approach.  Trout  choose  a shal- 
low, oxygen-rich,  rubble-bottomed  stream 
stretch  and  may  run  far  up  tributaries  to 
find  the  right  spot  for  a nursery.  When  the 
site  is  right,  the  female  trout  beats  her  tail 
and  body  against  the  gravel  bottom,  kick- 
ing up  silt,  sand  and  small  stones  and  let- 
ting them  flush  downstream.  What  re- 
mains in  the  depression  is  clean,  course 
gravel.  Into  this  she  lays  her  eggs,  a few 
hundred  to  a few  thousand,  depending  on 
her  size,  while  the  male  fertilizes  them. 
Even  though  the  nest  may  be  in  fast  water, 
the  hydraulics  of  the  pit  help  keep  the 
eggs  in. 

Like  the  mound-building  minnows,  trout 
cover  their  eggs.  Rainbows  and  browns 
do  this  by  swimming  upstream  of  the  first 
nest  and  starting  another.  This  action  bur- 
ies the  original  under  a protective  layer  of 
stones.  Brook  trout  actually  use  their  fins 
to  begin  covering  the  eggs,  scooping  up 


and  placing  stones.  Brown  and  brook  trout 
must  take  special  pains  with  their  nests 
because,  spawning  in  the  fall,  their  eggs 
overwinter  before  hatching.  Rainbows  can 
be  a little  more  lax  because  their  eggs  are 
usually  spawned  and  hatched  in  the  spring. 

After  seeing  the  eggs  buried  in  gravel, 
a trout’s  parental  duties  are  at  an  end.  It 
must  trust  time  and  chance  that  its  pre- 
cautions are  enough  so  that  its  eggs  will 
bear  fruit,  or  rather,  young  trout.  But  other 
fishes  do  more  and,  like  the  birds,  remain 
with  their  young  until  they  are  big  enough 
to  “fly,”  or  swim,  from  the  nest. 

Bass  and  panfish 

The  basses  and  panfishes  prepare  nests 
at  the  edges  of  ponds  or  in  the  quiet  shal- 
lows of  streams.  The  big  males  fan  the 
bottom  with  their  fins,  in  some  cases  rout- 
ing out  stubborn  obstacles  with  their  snouts, 
until  they  have  cleared  a saucer-shaped 
depression  in  the  mud,  sand  or  gravel. 
Smallmouths  and  bluegills  are  particularly 
careful  in  their  nest-cleaning.  Large- 
mouths  and  crappies  spawn  over  some 
vegetation.  The  activity  of  colony-nesting 
bluegills  is  often  seen  by  fishermen  as 
groups  of  bright,  circular  spots  against  a 
lake’s  darker  bottom.  Bass  prefer  more 
elbow  room. 


Nest  Time 


by  Linda  Steiner 


>* 

ly, ; 

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w '♦7f^^?:5^iVv:-r:  .•  y ~ 

■ ‘•■*‘y.  - ...  - A'-»- 

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• “^sSsSfesss!*^ 


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Each  father  bass  or  panfish  hovers  over 
and  defends  his  dishlike  "castle,”  nipping 
at  intruders,  herding  females  in  to  spawn 
and  guarding  the  eggs.  The  males  con- 
stantly fan  the  eggs  with  their  tins,  keeping 
them  free  of  silt,  fungi,  parasites,  micro- 
scopic predators  and  would-be  thieves. 

This  accounts  for  the  ease  with  which 
an  angler  can  plop  a hook  on  the  nest  and 
catch  the  pugnacious  guardian.  Even  after 
the  young  hatch,  they  remain  under  the 
watchful  eye  of  their  father.  The  basses 
may  even  herd  their  small,  dark  babies  as 
a school  for  a short  time. 

Bullheads,  catfish 

The  basses  and  panfishes  aren't  alone 
in  being  doting  parents.  Bullheads  also 
construct  a saucer-nest  in  shallow  water, 
but  both  male  and  female  may  join  in  nest- 
making and  protecting  the  eggs.  After  the 
little  ones  have  hatched,  the  bullhead  par- 
ents still  gently  swirl  them  with  their  fins 
and  may  even  take  the  eggs  and  young 
fish  in  their  mouth  and  gently  blow  them 
3 back  into  the  nest,  to  clean  them.  About 

c 

| a week  after  hatching,  the  black,  miniature 
s catfish  rise  from  the  nest  and  are  shep- 

| herded  about  by  their  parents  until  they 

| are  an  inch  or  two  long  and  can  fend  for 
' themselves. 


Channel  catfish  also  care  for  their  young 
and  protect  nests,  as  does  the  bowrtn. 
Madtoms,  sculpins  and  Johnny  darters 
guard  their  eggs  while  they  develop  under 
stones.  Male  fathead  and  bluntnose  min- 
nows carefully  clean  their  eggs,  which  are 
laid  on  the  underside  of  underwater  ob- 
jects. by  rubbing  them  with  a fatty  pad  on 
their  backs. 

Though  all  these  tish  take  special  pre- 
cautions with  their  babies,  many  others 
seem  to  be  cold-hearted,  as  well  as  cold- 
blooded, casting  their  progeny  to  whatever 
may  befall  them.  But  these  fish  are  not 
actually  as  reckless  with  the  next  gener- 
ation as  they  seem  to  be. 

Pike  family 

The  pike  family,  from  the  mighty 
muskel lunge  and  northern  pike  to  the 
smaller  chain,  grass  and  redrtn  pickerels, 
is  well-known  for  its  lack  of  parental  re- 
sponsibility. In  early  spring  they  swim 
slowly  side  by  side  along  the  shore,  large 
females  escorted  by  several  smaller  males, 
spawning  over  weeds  and  sunken  debris. 
Like  other  fish  that  broadcast  their  eggs, 
the  pikes  produce  great  numbers.  Big 
muskies  may  expel  up  to  several  hundred 
thousand  eggs. 


The  scattered,  fresh  pike  eggs  are  sticky 
for  a time  and  as  they  fall  they  adhere  to 
the  weeds.  This  is  important  because  drop- 
ping to  the  silted  bottom  would  suffocate 
them.  The  eggs  are  then  left  to  the  mercy 
of  waves  that  could  loosen  and  dash  them 
to  shore  and  to  the  wiles  of  predators.  The 
eggs  and  helpless  young  of  the  pikes  are 
often  eaten  by  panfishes,  but  the  tables  are 
turned  when  the  survivors  grow  up. 

Walleye 

Walleye,  like  the  pikes,  scatter  and 
abandon  their  eggs.  They  spawn  over  the 
rocky  or  sandy  shoals  of  lakes  and  over 
gravel  bars  and  riffles  in  streams.  The 
milling  and  splashing  of  the  spawning  fish 
stir  up  the  gravel  and  help  bury  the  wall- 
eye’s minute  eggs,  which  may  be  released 
by  the  tens  to  hundreds  of  thousands  by 
each  female.  Like  the  walleye,  suckers 
also  run  up  streams  to  spawn  at  night. 

Shad  randomly  release  their  eggs  in  open 
water  and  make  up  for  their  lack  of  prud- 
ence by  producing  up  to  a half-million 
eggs  per  female.  Carp  shed  several  million 
eggs  apiece  in  weedy  shallows.  Even  the 
little  golden  shiner  may  scatter  200,000 
eggs  and  a two-ounce  smelt,  50,000. 

Perch  are  a special  case.  Though  they 
don’t  make  nests,  yellow  perch  don't  scat- 
ter their  eggs  to  the  vagaries  of  current 
and  wave.  Unique  among  freshwater  fish, 
they  lay  their  eggs  in  an  accordion-like, 
gelatinous  ribbon,  which  swells  in  the  water 
and  entwines  in  brush  and  water  plants. 
A central  canal  runs  through  the  coiled 
mass  and  the  movement  of  the  water  sends 
an  oxygenated  stream  to  the  eggs.  The 
parent  perch  may  have  left  the  scene,  but 
they  certainly  provided  well. 

Most  fish-spawning  in  Pennsylvania 
takes  place  from  late  winter  to  early  sum- 
mer, as  each  species  takes  its  turn.  Wall- 
eye and  perch  spawn  just  after  ice-out. 
when  the  water  is  still  in  the  chilly  40s. 
Muskellunge.  northern  pike  and  pickerel 
spawn  around  50  degrees.  Getting  a head- 
start helps  their  young  be  just  the  right 
size  to  eat  the  hatchlings  of  later-nesting 
panfishes  and  minnows.  Trout,  shad  and 
suckers  lay  eggs  when  the  water  temper- 
ature is  in  the  50s.  The  basses,  panfish, 
catfish  and  carp  wait  until  it’s  60  to  70 
degrees. 

Some  fish,  like  bluegills,  manage  to  get 
in  several  broods  during  the  summer,  an- 
other similarity  to  the  birds.  But  it’s  a good 
thing  the  parallels  end  there.  Though  tish 
can’t  sing,  luckily  for  us  anglers,  they  also 
don't  head  south  in  the  fall. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


Sharing 

the  Stream 

by  Kenneth  J.  Stairs 


There  are  no 
venomous 

WATER  SNAKES  IN 

Pennsylvania, 

EVEN  THOUGH 
SOME  PEOPLE 
REFER  TO  OUR 
HARMLESS 
AQUATIC 
SPECIES  AS 
MOCCASINS. 


Rounding  the  bend  in  the  clear 
mountain  stream,  you  are  elated 
to  find  the  most  promising  sec- 
tion of  water.  This  pool  just  had  to  harbor 
a lunker  trout.  Overhanging  brash  to  one 
side  provided  shade  and  protection.  A wa- 
terfall at  the  upper  end  brought  food  and 
oxygen  to  the  fish.  Slowly  you  crouch  on 
one  knee  to  plan  your  first  cast.  Surveying 
the  mirrored  surface  of  the  pool  you  decide 
the  cast  will  be  short  and  close  to  the 
treetop  hanging  into  the  pool's  edge.  Just 
as  the  fiy  touches  the  water  you  hear  a 
familiar  plop,  and  movement  to  your  left 
six  feet  causes  the  hair  on  the  back  of  your 
neck  to  stand  straight  out. 

SNAKE!  Down  the  stream  you  go  in 
the  opposite  direction  of  your  cast.  Your 
fishing  trip  is  ruined  because  of  a harmless 
3-foot  water  snake.  Is  there  any  other 
way  to  act  when  encountering  these 
stream  dwellers  on  such  seemingly  un- 
friendly terms 

Granted,  the  preceding  story  could  be 
considered  an  exaggeration  of  most  fish- 
ermen’s reactions  in  a similar  situation, 
but  most  people  do  not  relish  the  idea  of 
being  startled  by  snakes.  Maybe  under- 
standing some  of  this  reptile’s  habits  can 
make  those  encounters  tolerable. 

The  most  common  aquatic  snake  in 
Pennsylvania  is  the  northern  water  snake 
(Nerodia  sipedon  sipedon).  This  reptile 
reaches  a length  of  slightly  over  4 feet 
although  the  average  is  usually  less  than 
36  inches.  The  queen  snake  (Regina  sep- 
temvittata),  and  especially  the  small  Kirt- 
lands  snake  (Clonophis  kirtlandi)  are  less 
common. 

There  are  no  venomous  water  snakes  in 
the  Commonwealth,  even  though  some 
people  refer  to  our  harmless  aquatic  spe- 
cies as  moccasins,  the  name  given  to  the 
venomous  cottonmouth  moccasin  of  the 
South.  Many  harmless  snake  species  are 
mistaken  each  year  for  the  poisonous  cop- 


perhead, and  the  water  snake  is  probably 
the  most  unfortunate  recipient  of  this  need- 
less misidentification.  Copperheads  are 
sometimes  found  close  to  the  water’s  edge, 
but  like  any  other  snake  they  retreat  if 
given  the  chance,  or  may  just  lie  motion- 
less, hoping  to  go  undetected.  Copper- 
heads have  hourglass-shaped  bands  cross- 
ing their  bodies.  Water  snakes,  on  the  other 
hand,  have  straight,  broad  bands.  The 
copperhead,  like  all  other  Pennsylvania  pit 
vipers,  has  the  heat-sensing  pit  located  be- 
tween the  nostril  and  the  eye  as  well  as 
the  single  row  of  scales  on  the  underside 
of  the  tail  not  found  on  the  non-venomous 
species  in  our  area. 

Though  the  water  snake  is  harmless,  it 
may  bite  if  picked  up,  stepped  on  or  cor- 
nered, but  their  small  teeth  cannot  pene- 
trate leather  or  hip  boots.  The  bite  is  no 
more  serious  than  most  superficial  skin 
cuts  or  scratches.  If  backed  into  a comer 
they  are  ever  willing  to  put  up  a fight,  but 
if  given  a chance  they  are  quite  generous 
in  their  attempts  to  make  way  for  an  oc- 
casional fisherman.  It  may  be  comforting 
to  know  that  snakes  do  not  chase  people 
and  if  left  alone  will  not  bother  you. 

A water  snake  sliding  into  the  water 
next  to  you  is  not  unlike  a grouse  flushing 
unexpectedly  at  close  range.  Both  are  un- 
nerving but  have  the  same  goal  in  mind: 
escape.  If  one  swims  in  your  direction  it 
is  only  because  it  is  confused  or  is  seeking 
a refuge  you  just  happen  to  be  blocking. 

The  fear  of  snakes  is  fairly  common 
among  many  people.  This  fear,  known  as 
ophidiophobia,  may  be  directed  at  water 
snakes  because  of  the  fluid-like  grace  they 
exhibit  while  gliding  across  the  water,  giv- 
ing them  the  appearance  of  being  slimy 
and  much  faster  than  they  really  are. 

1 know  of  a fine  stretch  of  trout  stream 
that  is  never  crowded  with  anglers  in  the 
spring  and  summer  because  of  a long  stone 
retaining  wall  running  alongside  the  stream 
that  used  to  support  a railroad  track.  This 
section  of  stream  has  water  snakes  in 
abundance,  but  the  fishing  is  unequaled. 

I have  fished  this  area  for  the  past  1 8 years 
and  have  never  been  chased  by  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  stone  wall. 

Water  snakes  are  “cold-blooded,”  and 
enjoy  lying  on  rocks,  brashpiles,  logs,  and 
streambanks  wanning  in  the  sun,  waiting 
for  their  next  meal.  The  northern  water 
snake  is  not  a finicky  eater,  consuming  a 
variety  of  aquatic  life  including  frogs,  sal- 
amanders, crayfish  and  minnows.  They 


6 March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Kenneth  Stairs 


also  eat  small  rodents  as  well  as  dead  an- 
imals and  fish  found  in  or  near  the  water. 
Although  I do  not  doubt  water  snakes  oc- 
casionally take  a trout  or  two,  they  pose 
no  serious  threat  to  healthy  gamefish. 

Water  snakes  are  excellent  swimmers, 
enabling  them  to  catch  prey  with  little  dif- 
ficulty, but  an  easy  meal  is  never  refused. 
This  is  demonstrated  when  a water  snake 
finds  a minnow  trap.  Looks  easy;  crawl 
into  the  tiny  hole  in  the  end  and  eat  all 
the  minnows  you  want.  The  problem  is 
finding  the  exit.  Unfortunately,  many  water 
snakes  drown  after  entering  these  traps. 

A water  snake  like  any  other  reptile  in 
the  Commonwealth  hibernates  during  the 
winter  and  is  found  lying  about  usually 
from  April  through  October. 

Water  snakes  bear  live  young  anywhere 
from  August  through  October,  centering 


around  September.  Litters  of  up  to  40  or 
more  are  not  uncommon.  This  sounds  like 
a lot  more  snakes,  but  the  mortality  rate 
among  newborn  snakes  and  all  reptiles  for 
that  matter  is  so  great  that  only  a few  from 
each  litter  survive  the  first  year.  A variety 
of  wildlife  prey  on  the  water  snake,  in- 
cluding hawks,  owls,  skunks,  raccoons, 
mink  and  weasels.  Large  fish  occasionally 
make  a meal  of  the  smaller  snakes. 

Water  snakes  are  a necessary  part  of 
our  environment  and  hopefully  under- 
standing more  about  these  aquatic  reptiles 
will  enable  us  to  share  the  stream  and 
better  appreciate  the  outdoors. 


For  technical  assistance  with  this  arti- 
cle, the  author  thanks  Clark  Shiffer,  Fish 
Commission  herpetology  and  endan- 
gered species  coordinator. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  7 


Conewango. . .A  Sleeping  Giant 

by  Roger  Dalo 


If  streams  were  classified  for  gamefish  value 
according  to  water  clarity,  the  Conewango 
would  never  appear  on  any  angler's  top 
10.  There  is  perhaps  no  other  waterway 
in  the  Commonwealth  more  summarily 
surveyed,  categorized  and  condemned  from 
its  bridges  than  the  Conewango.  That’s  a 
shame,  because  from  its  waters  have  come 
tournament-busting  fish.  Among  them  have 
been  the  winning  catch  in  the  1985  Penn- 
sylvania Fishing  Championship,  over- 
shadowing such  legends  as  the  Allegheny 
Reservoir  and  Allegheny  River. 

To  the  casual  observer,  its  waters  ap- 
pear silt-laden,  lazy  and  generally  lifeless. 
A little  closer  inspection  (commonly  done 
by  only  a few  locals)  reveals  some  inter- 
esting inhabitants  including  smallmouths, 
northerns,  muskies,  walleye,  and  despite 
the  disbelief  of  many,  trout. 

The  Conewango’s  anonymity  is  main- 
tained by  a cloak  of  brown  algae  that  pe- 
rennially stains  its  course.  Visibility  is  often 
measured  in  inches,  which  leaves  roadside 
observers  wondering  if  in  fact  a carp  could 
survive  in  its  waters. 

Just  beneath  the  surface,  however,  is  a 
sleeping  giant  of  a fishery,  bypassed  and 
relatively  undisturbed  for  years.  Waking 
this  giant  requires  just  a little  understand- 
ing, finesse,  confidence,  and  a few  tips. 

By  now,  you  might  ask,  “Con- 
ewa.. where  is  the  place?”  It’s  pro- 
nounced Con-uh-wongo  (not  to  be  con- 
fused with  Conowingo  or  Conewago),  and 
to  the  Seneca  Indians  it  means  “below  the 
riffles.”  To  the  locals  it’s  “a  neighbor- 
hood secret.”  To  me  it  represents  “an 
uncrowded  place  with  plenty  of  hidden 
gamefish.” 

Sired  by  Lake  Chautauqua  and  the  farm 
country  of  southwestern  New  York,  it  en- 
ters Pennsylvania  in  northcentral  Warren 
County.  For  the  next  nine  miles,  it  flows 
slowly  through  Akeley,  picks  up  a little 
velocity  at  Russell,  then  quietly  empties 
into  the  Allegheny  River  at  Warren. 

At  Akeley,  it  undergoes  an  important 
charge.  Upstream  is  a swamp  environment 
home  to  northerns  and  enough  muskies  to 
keep  things  interesting.  Downstream  in  the 
light  riffle/pool  section  lies  a fairly  prolific 
small  mouth  bass  population  augmented  by 
early  season  walleye  and  trout. 

If  a stream  could  wear  a moniker,  the 
Conewango's  would  contain  only  two 

8 March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


words:  “Live  bait.”  Now  you  know  the 
secret.  The  Conewango  is  one  of  those 
live  bait  streams.  Not  that  hardware  is  in- 
effective, but  live  bait  generally  out- 
produces artificials  two  to  one. 

Upper  Conewango 

From  Akeley  on  north,  the  stream  is 
flat  and  easily  negotiable  for  cartop  boats. 
Bank  access  in  this  area  is  fairly  limited, 
so  a boat  is  nearly  a must.  If  you’re  toting 
anything  but  a canoe,  I’d  recommend  in- 
cluding a small  motor.  Launch  just  north 
of  Akeley  and  move  upstream  a half-mile 
or  so  to  where  the  creek  leaves  U.S. 
Route  62. 

For  the  next  two  miles  upstream,  you'll 
find  an  area  sometimes  called  “the  snags.” 
Here  the  creek  is  dotted  with  log  jams  and 
punctuated  by  overhangs  and  intermittent 
deep  holes.  This  is  not  a healthy  place  for 
a young  or  otherwise  uninitiated  sucker  or 
chub.  So  the  use  of  a chub  and  float  combo 
reliably  stimulates  the  northerns  and 
muskies  to  action. 

Heavy  duty  spinning  or  casting  outfits 
backed  up  with  a minimum  of  15-pound- 
test  line  are  a must.  Don’t  be  shy  about 
rigging  with  a wire  leader  to  match,  and 
size  4/0  (or  larger)  hooks  are  in  order  for 
baits  of  4-6  inches.  Next,  move  up  the 
line  about  four  feet  and  snap  on  a float 
just  large  enough  to  keep  your  boat  to  tow. 
This  ensures  a minimum  of  resistance  to 
be  felt  by  a prospective  northern  or  musky 
as  it  wolfs  down  your  bait.  And  finally, 
make  a point  of  not  adding  any  weight 
above  the  wire  leader.  As  the  saying  goes, 
“let  ’em  run  wild”  around  the  float. 

Given  the  terrain  you'll  be  operating  in. 

Just  below  the  surface  is 
a sleeping  giant  of  a 
fishery,  bypassed  and 


I'd  strongly  recommend  that  no  leniency 
be  shown  after  setting  the  hook.  If  you 
can  bring  ’em  to  the  boat  without  ever 
hearing  the  reel  sing,  don’t  hesitate.  By 
the  same  token,  when  you  do  bring  one 
boat-side  after  only  a short  fight,  be  pre- 
pared for  a shower  from  time  to  time. 

If  your  forte  is  hardware,  drift  along 
and  pitch  six-inch  floating  Rapalas  and 
similar  offerings.  These  northerns  like  a 
stop-and-go  twitch  or  a dive-and-float  rou- 
tine. The  muskies  generally  respond  to  a 
high-speed  chase. 

Lower  Conewango 

From  Akeley  to  Warren,  smallmouths 
account  for  most  of  the  action.  This  is  an 
area  of  gentle  riffles  and  pools  interspersed 
with  runs  and  glides;  it’s  easily  waded 
during  most  of  the  wanner  months.  Even 
here,  though,  northerns  and  an  occasional 
musky  can  cause  profound  alteration  in  a 
bass  angler’s  state  of  mind.  Always  be 
prepared. 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


Roger  Dalo 


Over  the  years,  I’ve  found  consistent 
concentrations  of  smallmouths  in  and 
around  Russell,  just  north  of  Warren  and 
below  the  low-head  dam  upstream  from 
the  confluence  with  the  Allegheny  River. 

There  is  also  a considerable  population 
of  what  I call  “transient  bass.”  These  are 
the  fish  that  take  up  residence  between 
pools  and  patiently  hang  around  rock  out- 
croppings downed  trees  or  submerged 
boulders.  Others  find  suitable  feeding  sta- 
tions in  small  depressions  along  the  stream 
bottom  and  remain  hidden  from  view  in 
the  discolored  water.  To  find  these  areas, 
note  shallow  points  and  then  cast  baits  into 
the  pockets  between. 

For  some  fast  and  sometimes  furious 
action,  stick  with  crayfish.  I've  found  these 
smallmouths  particularly  receptive  to  small 
or  medium-sized  hard-shells.  The  advan- 
tage of  hard-shells  is,  or  course,  their 
availability  and  that  most  of  the  larger 
suckers  and  carp  show  a decided  prefer- 
ence for  soft-shells.  So  unless  you  enjoy 
passing  the  day  engaged  in  marathon  bull- 
dog fights,  stick  to  the  hard-shells.  If  hard- 
ware is  your  choice,  try  the  shallow-  and 
medium-running  crayfish  pattern  crank- 
baits  and  Mepps  “0“  (or  larger)  spinner- 
minnow  rigs. 

Most  of  the  smallmouths  run  in  the  10- 
inch  to  16-inch  range,  so  light  or  ultralight 
5-foot  to  6 1/2-foot  rods  and  reels  to  match 
work  best.  Use  four-  to  eight-pound-test 
line  (remember,  visibility  is  limited)  and 
either  a small  slip  or  bait-walker  sinker 
along  with  a size  4 or  6 hook.  Of  course, 
you  could  meet  up  with  a four-pounder 
that  provides  an  unexpected  30-second  tour 
of  the  creek,  culminating  in  the  loss  of 
equipment. 

In  addition  to  the  bass,  some  respect- 
able walleye  action  is  available  from  the 
Conewango's  mouth  upstream  through 
Russell.  Concentrate  on  the  deeper  holes, 
especially  around  Russell  and  just  down- 
stream of  the  old  low-head  dam  in  War- 
ren. If  you're  up  near  New  York,  the  two 
holes  nearest  the  state  line  are  also  worth 
trying. 

Medium  suckers  or  shiners  work  best 
followed  by  crawlers  and  medium-sized 
crayfish.  A little  heavier  gear  is  advisable, 
but  medium  freshwater  outfits  rigged  for 
smallmouths  will  suffice. 

Two  prime  trout  areas  can  be  found 
along  the  stream.  Try  the  riffles  located 
within  a half-mile  of  the  mouth  of  Akeley 
Run.  A similar  situation  also  develops  each 
year  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  Jack- 
son  Run. 


*■ 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Scale  Approx.  1"  = .8  miles 


You'll  find  a mix  of  browns  and  rain- 
bows (I  once  landed  a small  brook  trout 
that  looked  wholly  confused)  quite  eager 
to  strike  nearly  any  offering.  Size  1 Mepps 
in  gold,  small  shiners,  crawlers,  and  small 
crayfish  seem  to  be  reliable  creel  loaders. 

Generally  speaking,  the  walleye  and  trout 
action  is  concentrated  from  early  May 
through  mid-July.  During  this  period,  trout 
migrate  from  stocked  streams  and  the 
walleye,  having  moved  up  from  the  Al- 
legheny River  in  March  to  spawn,  settle 
down  to  some  serious  feeding. 

The  smallmouths,  northerns  and 
muskies  are  year-round  residents. 


When  you  go 

Float  trips  from  Russell  on  south  require 
a canoe.  There  are  pinch  points  near  Hatch 
Run  Road  and  some  shallow  split-channel 
sections  scattered  about  that  require  some 
maneuverability  not  offered  by  other  craft. 
A canoe  rental  service,  including  put-in 
and  take-out,  is  available  from  Allegheny 
Outfitters  in  Warren.  The  phone  number 
is  814-723-1203.  No  other  canoe  rentals 
are  available  within  reasonable  distances 
from  the  Conewango. 

Bank  anglers  will  find  access  available 
along  the  Big  Four  Road,  on  foot  by  the 
abandoned  railroad  bed  going  upstream 
from  Russell,  and  in  town  at  Warren.  There 
is  also  limited  access  at  points  along  State 
Street  and  U.S.  Route  62  north  of  Akeley. 
With  the  exception  of  the  launch  and  re- 
covery points,  parking  is  generally  street- 
side  or  pull-off. 

The  Conewango,  due  to  its  relatively 
flat  and  slow-to-drain  headwaters,  is  sub- 
ject to  extended  high-water  periods  until 
full  leaf-out  in  mid-May.  If  you’re  plan- 
ning to  travel  a good  distance,  call  Holmes 
Bait  and  Sporting  Goods  in  Warren  at  814- 
723-8810.  It  is  located  right  on  the  stream 
at  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  can  give  val- 
uable advice  on  the  latest  conditions.  You 
may  also  want  to  check  out  Field  and 
Stream,  Pennsylvania  Avenue  East,  War- 
ren, at  814-726-1889;  and  Hook  and  Gun 
Sporting  Goods,  Route  6,  Warren,  at  814- 
726-3452. 


If  the  Conewango  is  a little  out  of  your 
driving  range,  take  a second  look  at  some 
streams  in  your  neighborhood  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. Pay  special  attention  to  the 
“murky”  or  “lifeless”  ones.  I'm  sure 
you’ll  find  that  the  Giant  sleeps  in  more 

than  one  place.  

[pa] 


10  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


The  author  thanks  Fish  Commission  Area 
2 Area  Fisheries  Manager  Ron  Lee  for 
technical  assistance  with  this  article. 


graphics  -Reprographics.  Div.  of  GANCOM 


Mighty  Muskellunge 

The  muskellunge,  or  “musky,”  is  the  largest  member 
of  Pennsylvania’s  pike  family.  It  was  named  by  the 
Indians  and  taken  from  two  of  their  words:  mas 
meaning  ugly  and  kinononge  meaning  fish. 

To  some  the  muskellunge  is  truly  ugly.  It's  dark- 
colored  head  has  a long  snout  somewhat  like  a 
duck’s  bill.  The  mouth  is  filled  with  many  large, 
sharp  teeth.  It  also  has  patches  of  teeth  on  its 
tongue.  On  each  side  of  the  underside  of  the  lower 
jaw  there  are  six  to  nine  pores.  The  tail  is  deeply 
forked.  Muskellunge  are  generally  green  over  the 
back  with  green  to  green-gold  or  light-brown  sides 
blending  into  a cream  or  white  belly.  The  sides  have 
dark  vertical  (up  and  down)  bar  lines,  and  small 
brown  spots  are  scattered  over  the  belly.  The  fins 
are  greenish  to  red-brown. 

In  Pennsylvania  the  muskellunge  can  be  found  in 
most  rivers,  streams  and  warmwater  lakes.  Its  origi- 
nal range  was  limited  to  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
state,  but  through  stocking  programs,  it  is  now  found 
statewide. 

Muskellunge  spawn  in  early  spring  just  after  the 
ice  melts  off  the  water’s  surface.  Spawning  takes 
place  at  night  in  shallow,  weedy  areas.  For  spawn- 
ing to  occur,  water  temperatures  must  stay  between 
49  and  59  degrees. 


FISH  FACT: 

Big  brown  trout  like  to  live 
alone.  They  aren’t  usually 
found  where  smaller 
trout  are  plentiful. 

Seeking  privacy, 
the  big  brownies 
drive  the  little  fish 
away  and  use  these 
areas  as  resting  or 
feeding  places. 


Unlike  other  fish  such  as  bluegills,  trout  and  bass, 
muskellunge  don’t  build  nests.  They  scatter  their 
eggs  in  the  weeds.  Eggs  hatch  in  8 to  14  days.  At 
10  weeks,  young  muskellunge  are  about  six  inches 
long.  By  November  they  are  10-  to  12-inch  fish.  At 
three  or  four  years  of  age  they  are  about  24  inches 
long  and  ready  to  become  parents  themselves.  As 
muskellunge  get  older  they  gain  more  weight  than 
length.  Some  fish  have  been  recorded  up  to  70 
pounds  and  30  years  old.  Pennsylvania’s  state  re- 
cord was  caught  in  Conneaut  Lake  (Crawford 
County)  in  1924.  It  was  59  inches  long  and  weighed 
54  pounds,  3 ounces. 

If  you  are  a “musky”  angler,  the  best  places  to 
look  for  them  are  in  shallow  coves  of  lakes.  In  rivers 
good  spots  are  backwaters  and  where  the  water 
changes  direction  to  form  eddies.  Stumps,  around 
lily  pads  and  underwater  weed  beds  are  favorite 
musky  hiding  places.  Muskellunge  usually  prefer  to 
live  a lonely  life,  but  except  for  spawning,  they 
sometimes  gather  in  the  mouths  of  tributary  streams 
where  they  can  find  large  numbers  of  small  fish 
to  eat. 

Muskellunge  have  been  given  a bad  reputation  as 
vicious  fish  that  eat  everything  in  sight.  This  is  not 
true.  Actually,  a musky  only  requires  four  pounds  of 
food  to  gain  one  pound  in  weight.  For  it  to  gain 
three  pounds  per  year,  it  needs  only  12  pounds  of 
forage  fish.  An  adult  muskellunge  only  eats  when  it 
needs  food.  It  usually  lies  hidden  in  weeds  and  darts 
out  quickly  to  grab  an  unsuspecting  prey.  It  then  re- 
turns to  its  resting  place  where  its  food  is  swallowed 
headfirst. 

It  is  not  easy  to  catch  a “musky.”  Many  anglers 
spend  hundreds  of  hours  fishing  for  them  before 
they  catch  one.  When  a muskellunge  does  decide  to 
attack  a large  lure  or  bait,  the  angler  is  in  for  the 
thrill  of  his  life. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 1 


The  Muskrat  Nymph 


by  Chauncy  K. 
photos  by  the  author 


If  you  assessed  the  merits  of  the  various 
animal  furs  used  in  fly  dressing,  muskrat 
fur  would  have  to  appear  high  on  the  list. 
It  responds  beautifully  to  virtually  all  dub- 
bing techniques,  it  is  easily  obtainable  and 
when  it  is  wet  it  seems  to  be  especially 
alluring  to  trout  and  other  gamefish.  It  may 
be  dubbed  with  its  own  guard  hairs  to 
achieve  rough-textured  bodies  that  trap  air 
bubbles,  or  without  guard  hairs  to  form 
smooth,  delicate  bodies.  Small  wonder  it 
is  used  in  such  “standard”  patterns  as  the 
Adams,  Female  Beaverkill,  Dark  Cahill, 
Iron  Blue  Dun,  Gray  Wulff,  Fledermaus 
and  many  others. 

Then  there  is  the  Muskrat  Nymph,  an 
old-timer  with  which  most  Pennsylvania 
fly  fishermen  are  familiar. 

I know  several  Potter  County  anglers 
who  swear  that  fishing  the  likes  of  Kettle 
Creek,  Cross  Fork  and  First  Fork  without 
a supply  of  Muskrat  Nymphs  is  sheer  folly. 
Dressed  normally,  the  pattern  is  a fair  rep- 
resentation of  a mayfly  nymph,  but  it  can 
also  be  tied  thin-bodied  on  a long-shank 
hook  to  mimic  a damselfly.  With  a fat, 
stubby  body  it  can  pass  for  a dragonfly 
nymph.  It  has  the  versatility  common  to 
most  good  fly  patterns. 

Many  veteran  fishermen  like  to  use  a 
cast  of  three  wet  flies  in  the  manner  of  the 


1 Clamp  a wet  fly  hook  in  the  vise 
(sizes  10  to  18  are  useful)  and  tie  in 
black  6/0  prewaxed  thread  behind  the 
eye.  Cut  a strip  of  lead  wire  slightly 
longer  than  the  shank  and  double  it. 
Bind  the  doubled  wire  under  the 
forward  part  of  the  shank  and  wind  the 
thread  back  to  the  bend. 


2 For  tails,  tie  in  a small  bunch  of 
brown  hackle  barbules. 


3 Form  a loop  of  thread  about  4 
inches  long  and  wrap  it  over  the 
apex  of  the  loop  at  the  shank.  Keep  the 
bottom  of  the  loop  open  while  winding 
the  thread  to  a point  just  behind  the 
eye.  Wax  one  of  the  strands  of  the  loop 
and  apply  muskrat  fur  with  the 
fingertips. 


12  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


early  anglers  who  plied  our  mountain 
streams  before  brown  trout  were  intro- 
duced. Of  these  there  are  some  who  main- 
tain that  a slightly  weighted  Muskrat  Nymph 
is  the  ideal  point  fly.  anchoring  the  cast 
so  that  the  dropper  flies  may  be  danced  or 
dapped  at  will.  But  even  in  this  utilitarian 
role  it  catches  its  share  of  trout.  I’m  told. 

I’m  a single  fly  man  and  I fish  the  Musk- 
rat Nymph  more  or  less  conventionally. 
It  has  turned  up  some  surprises,  too,  like 
the  time  we  drove  to  Tionesta  Creek  near 
Kellettsville  and  found  the  stream  too  high 
and  roily  to  fish  with  flies.  Frustrated  by 
conditions  on  the  main  water,  we  began 
to  look  for  clear  tributaries  and  settled  for 
the  lower  reaches  of  Salmon  Run,  which 
appeared  fishable. 

I remember  drifting  a size  10  Muskrat 
Nymph  along  a log  jam  and  catching  three 
surprising  fine  smallmouth  bass  on  three 
consecutive  casts — a totally  unexpected 
catch  from  what  we  presumed  to  be  brook 
trout  water.  But  eventually  we  found  the 
trout,  too,  and  a day  that  began  badly 
became  a complete  success. 

There  are  several  different  versions  of 
the  Muskrat  Nymph,  but  the  variations  are 
mainly  in  the  hackle  and  tails.  Some  tyers 
prefer  badger  hackle;  others  grizzly,  while 
still  others  use  speckled  grouse  or  par- 


tridge hackle.  Brown  hackle,  which  I use 
in  the  pattern,  seems  to  strike  a happy 
medium,  but  individual  tyers  are  encour- 
aged to  experiment  on  their  own. 

There  are  several  methods  by  which  to 
apply  fur  body  dubbing.  Perhaps  the  most 
common  is  one  in  which  the  fur  is  plucked 
or  cut  from  the  hide  and  rolled  with  the 
fingertips  around  a waxed  length  of 
the  tying  thread.  We  have  frequently 
described  this  method  in  other  Angler 
articles. 

Another  method  uses  a dubbing  loop  of 
thread,  into  which  is  inserted  several  small 
bunches  of  fur.  Then  the  loop  is  closed 
and  twisted,  trapping  the  fur  pieces  and 
producing  a heavy  chenille-like  body.  A 
third  method,  which  I use  in  the  Muskrat 
Nymph  dressing,  combines  features  of  the 
first  two. 

A dubbing  loop  of  the  working  thread 
is  formed  and  one  of  the  strands  is  waxed. 
Fur  is  rolled  around  the  waxed  thread  with 
the  fingertips  and  the  loop  is  closed.  Then 
the  jaws  of  a hackle  plier  are  clamped  to 
the  bottom  end  of  the  closed  loop  and  the 
plier  is  rotated,  twisting  the  bare  strand  of 
thread  around  the  dubbed  strand. 

Many  tyers  are  adept  at  twirling  hackle 
pliers  (like  spinning  a top)  and  allowing 
it  to  spin  under  its  own  momentum.  This 


twists  the  dubbing  in  a matter  of  seconds. 
This  method  produces  a very  durable  dub- 
bing capable  of  withstanding  many  en- 
counters with  toothy  trout.  For  the  Musk- 
rat Nymph  I leave  a few  guard  hairs  in 
the  fur  to  achieve  a body  that  is  neither 
smooth  nor  scraggly. 

Whether  or  not  to  weight  nymphs  is  a 
matter  of  choice  and  depends  more  or  less 
on  the  water  types  you  fish.  If  you  mainly 
fish  slow,  flat  water,  or  Stillwater  ponds 
or  lakes,  the  chances  are  that  your  nymphs 
require  little  or  no  weighting.  However, 
most  of  us  fish  streams  that  are  at  least 
moderately  fast  and  turbulent,  justifying  a 
degree  of  weight  in  the  fly. 

I like  to  build  just  enough  weight  in  a 
nymph  to  ensure  quick  entry  into  the  sur- 
face film.  If  more  weight  is  required  to 
carry  the  fly  deep  in  heavy  water,  I prefer 
to  add  additional  weight  to  the  leader.  In 


J* 


dressing  the  Muskrat  Nymph  I bind  a dou- 
bled strip  of  lead  wire  to  the  underside  of 
the  shank.  This  lowers  the  center  of  grav- 
ity and  helps  to  keep  the  fly  swimming  in 
an  upright  position.  r^n 


4 Close  the  loop  and  clamp  your 
hackle  pliers  to  the  bottom  of  the 
loop.  Spin  the  pliers  until  the  entire 
length  of  the  dubbed  loop  is  twisted. 


6 Tie  in  a soft  brown  hackle  at  the 
fore  end  of  the  body,  with  the  glossy 
side  facing  the  eye.  Wind  the  hackle  two 
turns,  tie  it  off  and  trim  the  excess. 

Whip  finish  the  thread  at  the  head  and 
apply  head  lacquer.  Finally,  trim  the 
hackle  above  and  below  the  shank. 

March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


Why  Take  a 

Toungster  Fishing  ? 

by  Bill  Einsig 


There  is  something  about  a fishing 
pole,  can  of  wonns  and  quiet  water 
that  makes  me  think  of  kids.  Part 
of  the  reason  comes  from  my  own  child- 
hood, but  the  rest  comes  from  something 
I’ve  learned  since  1 became  a parent:  Fish- 
ing is  an  educational  experience  that  teaches 
kids  lifetime  survival  skills. 

It’s  true  that  youngsters  who  have  the 
opportunity  to  fish  learn  many  things  about 
the  natural  world  that  other  kids  usually 
miss.  They  quickly  learn  that  a bluegill 
and  a bass  are  different-looking  critters 
and  that  the  fearsome-looking  catfish  is 
the  most  exciting  of  them  all.  Young  fish- 
ermen are  distracted  easily  and  their  learn- 
ing may  turn  from  fishing  to  streamside 
exploring — turning  over  rocks  to  find  garter 
snakes  or  crayfish,  or  poking  through 
spongy  logs  to  expose  carpenter  ants  and 
fat  grubs.  All  these  are  good  learning  ex- 
periences that  nourish  the  curiosity  of 
youngsters. 

But  there  are  many  folks  who  don't  care 
about  such  things  and  don’t  care  if  their 
children  know  them  or  not.  As  strange  as 
it  may  seem,  there  are  folks  who  can’t 
cast  a sinker  or  bait  a hook.  They  wouldn't 
know  a crayfish  if  it  clamped  onto  their 
toes  and  they  don’t  care.  Fishing  and  such 
related  natural  things  are  simply  not  a part 
of  their  universe.  They  know  it  and  they 
don't  think  the  fishing  experience  has 
any  particular  value  for  their  kids.  They 
are  wrong. 

The  values,  attitudes  and  skills  that  make 
each  of  us  unique  were  formed  by  a com- 
bination of  experiences  that  shaped  our 
lives.  Single  out  any  particular  skill  or 
attitude  you  have  and  you’ll  be  able  to 
trace  it  back  to  some  past  experience.  You 
might  be  a skilled  fly  tyer.  Someone  helped 
you  learn  that  skill  and  some  experience 
honed  your  interest.  You  might  relish  the 
flavor  of  walleye  and  can’t  quite  under- 
stand how  others  can  savor  the  taste  of 
catfish  or  carp.  Varied  experiences  build 
varied  lives. 

Fishing  experiences  are  exciting  times 
for  kids  and  can  be  valuable  learning  tools. 


But  perhaps  their  most  important  values 
are  far  more  subtle  than  the  junior  natu- 
ralist training  we  preach  about.  If  we  em- 
phasize some  of  these  “hidden”  attri- 
butes, fishing  experiences  will  become  tools 
that  develop  responsible  citizens  and  ma- 
ture adults.  That’s  something  all  parents 
should  care  about. 

Do  such  goals  sound  a bit  grandiose  for 
the  hook-and-line  bunch?  Let’s  see. 

Patience 

Nearly  every  good  fisherman  learns  to 
be  patient.  My  own  son  once  expected  a 
bite  on  every  cast.  Now  he  waits,  ready 
for  action  when  it  comes. 

Life  is  much  like  that.  Patience  rewards 
the  prepared  person  who  awaits  opportu- 
nity and  is  ready  to  make  the  most  of  it. 
In  the  fast-paced,  frenetic  lifestyles  of  to- 
day, the  gift  of  patience  may  be  one  of 
the  most  valuable  we  can  give  our  kids. 

Non-competition 

Soccer  matches  and  baseball  games  have 
winners  and  losers.  Every  form  of  com- 
petition leaves  as  many,  or  more,  losers 
than  winners.  Small  wonder  that  far  too 
many  kids  today  see  themselves  as  losers. 

Fishing,  too,  can  be  taught  as  a com- 
petitive sport,  but  it  doesn’t  have  to  be.  It 
can  be  essentially  non-competitive  be- 
tween fishing  friends  who  care  more  about 
enjoying  the  sport,  and  each  other,  than 
about  full  creels,  fish  length  and  live 
weights.  It  can  be  about  a friend  who  lays 
his  own  rod  aside  to  handle  the  boat  as 
another  works  a lunker.  It  can  be  about  a 
friend  who  shares  his  best  lure  or  works 
the  net. 

Competition  in  healthy  amounts  is  a 
necessary  experience  for  each  of  us.  It 
must  be  balanced,  though,  with  other  ex- 
periences that  free  us  from  the  constant 
struggle  with  the  fear  of  losing,  the  threat 
of  failure. 

Self-esteem 

Each  of  us  must  feel  he  is  good  at  some- 
thing. It  proves,  perhaps  only  to  ourselves. 


that  we  are  worthwhile,  that  we  have  ac- 
complished something  that  gives  value  to 
our  lives. 

Youngsters  have  that  same  need  al- 
though we  adults  forget  that  they  do.  They 
painfully  realize  there  are  so  very  many 
things  they  cannot  do  as  well  as  older 
folks.  In  fact,  it’s  easy  for  them  to  over- 
look their  own  accomplishments,  or  at  least 
downgrade  them,  in  their  frustration.  They 
need  encouragement  to  help  them  through 
the  tough  times. 

Fishing  can  do  that.  The  basic  skills  of 
fishing  are  actually  quite  simple.  A short 
rod  with  a small  spincast  reel  and  a me- 
dium to  heavy  bobber  can  make  a young- 
ster an  independent  caster  in  a short  time. 
Add  a worm  on  a small  hook  in  a lake 
full  of  panfish  and  you  nearly  have  an 
expert  fisherman! 

Someday  that  youngster  may  reflect  on 
those  early  lessons  and  see  them  for  what 
they  are.  But  not  when  he’s  experiencing 
them!  His  imagination  will  fuel  his  self- 
esteem and  you'll  be  able  to  see  his  self- 
confidence  soar. 

Togetherness 

There  are  two  ways  to  look  at  this  par- 
ticular benefit.  First,  most  parents  need  to 
spend  more  time  with  their  kids.  We’ve 
all  heard  this  from  television  commercials 
and  probably  from  our  schools. 

Often  youngsters  develop  their  own 
views  of  alcohol,  drugs  and  other  sticky 
social  customs  without  the  aid  of  a sharing 
parent.  Sometimes  the  parent  is  too  busy 
making  a living  for  the  family;  other  times 
parents  just  don’t  take  the  time  to  share 
their  feelings.  By  spending  time  together, 
and  trying  to  understand  one  another,  par- 
ents and  youngsters  have  a better  chance 
of  communicating  and  of  understanding 
conflicts  from  more  than  one  perspective. 

A second  benefit  of  “togetherness” 
comes  from  my  two  decades  of  teaching. 
Parents  and  youngsters  who  learn  together 
leam  better.  Nothing  sharpens  one’s  cur- 
iosity to  a keener  edge  than  a companion 
curiosity.  And  when  that  companion  learner 
is  a parent,  a youngster  profits  tremen- 
dously in  many  ways. 

Again,  fishing  can  be  the  ideal  reason 
to  spend  time  together.  The  time  you  spend 
waiting  for  the  next  strike  could  also  be 
the  time  you  share  your  own  views  on 
alcohol  or  cocaine.  It  could  also  be  the 
time  for  your  daughter  to  explain  why  she 
just  has  to  have  four  holes  pierced  in  each 
ear  and  dye  her  hair  purple  and  green! 
(Remember,  learning  patience  was  an- 
other benefit  of  fishing!) 


14  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Bill  Einsig 


Finally,  fishing  with  your  youngster  is 
a good  way  to  learn  more  about  fishing. 
I once  had  a college  professor  who  said 
he  only  went  fishing  when  fish  were  ea- 
gerly biting.  He  knew,  he  said,  exactly 
when  that  was  and  therefore  fishing  was 
little  challenge.  Too  bad  for  him. 

Most  of  us  are  still  happily  ignorant 
enough  to  be  fascinated  by  the  unpredict- 
ability of  the  fish  we  seek.  Each  trip  to 
the  stream  or  pond  should  bring  some  new 
discovery  and  trying  to  teach  what  we  al- 
ready know  to  a youngster  heightens  our 
sense  of  what  we  do  not  know!  It  can  be 
a humbling  experience. 

Life  and  death 

It’s  easy  for  a youngster  to  grow  up  in 
an  ideal  world  where  death  is  not  even 
discussed.  But  that  is  neither  realistic  nor 
fair.  Where  there  is  life  there  is  also  death. 
Sooner  or  later,  each  of  us  experiences 
the  death  of  loved  ones.  Our  preparation 


determines  the  effect  that  loss  has  on 
our  lives. 

Catching  a fish  and  understanding  that 
it  must  die  to  serve  as  our  food  helps 
youngsters  to  connect  life  and  death.  It 
also  helps  the  young  person  to  learn  that 
our  own  survival  depends  on  our  ability 
to  produce  and  harvest  enough  food  from 
other  living  things — both  plant  and 
animal. 

None  of  these  attributes  is  automatic. 
My  daughter  will  not  become  a mature, 
self-confident  young  woman  just  by  going 
fishing.  But  fishing  is  a good  experience 
that  will  draw  us  together  for  a few  hours. 
During  that  time  we'll  laugh  at  some  of 
the  same  things,  explore  some  new  mon- 
sters together  and  I'll  have  a chance  to 
praise  her  for  a good  cast  or  for  landing 
a bluegill. 

Fishing  is  simply  the  activity  that  pre- 
sents opportunities.  We  must  take  advan- 
tage of  them  for  our  kids'  sake.  [pa] 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  15 


16  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


John  Punola 


Shad 

Darts 


during  the  course  of  a season.  Boat  fish- 
ermen won’t  lose  as  many,  but  they'll  still 
run  out  of  darts  from  time  to  time  unless 
they  have  an  inexhaustable  supply. 

A wise  angler  never  leaves  home  with- 
out at  least  two  dozen  darts  of  varying 
sizes  and  colors  in  his  tackle  box.  And  the 
most  convenient  place  to  pick  them  off  the 
shelf  is  in  your  basement  or  hobby  room, 
where  they  can  be  stored  for  about  a nickel 
apiece. 

What  do  you  need  to  make  your  own 
shad  darts?  Surprisingly,  very  little.  Start 
with  lead  and  a melting  pot,  add  some  jig 
hooks,  a couple  of  jars  of  paint,  a little 
thread,  and  some  tail  material  and. . .viol a\ 
You've  got  the  ingredients  of  a hobby  that 
will  help  you  wile  away  the  winter  hours 
and  possibly  start  you  on  a new  profit- 
making venture. 

What  are  the  best  components  .’  Where 
can  you  find  them?  Let’s  take  a look. 

Lead 

The  first  thing  to  remember  about  lead 

March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


by  Dennis  Scholl 


Fishery  biologists  claim  that  American  shad 
do  not  consume  any  food  during  their  an- 
nual spring  spawning  runs  into  freshwater 
rivers.  Why,  then,  do  shad  go  bonkers 
over  small,  teardrop-shaped  lures  called 
shad  darts 

No  one  knows,  and  no  one  probably 
ever  will.  Let’s  just  be  happy  they  do,  and 
thank  our  lucky  stars  they  prefer  an  of- 
fering that’s  easy,  inexpensive  and  fun 
to  make. 

The  time  to  be  gathering  your  supply 
of  shad  darts  for  this  year’s  run  in  the 
Delaware  River  is  now,  and  if  you’re  smart, 
you’ll  begin  piling  them  up  right  in  your 
own  home.  Shad  darts  tend  to  be  expen- 
sive when  purchased  in  the  quantity  that’s 
needed  for  a season  of  fishing.  A shore 
fisherman,  no  matter  how  good  the  angler 
may  be,  may  lose  a hundred  darts  or  more 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


is  that  you're  interested  in  using  pure,  soft 
lead.  Hard  lead  (lead  mixed  with  alloys) 
can  damage  a shad  dart  mold  over  a period 
of  time.  With  soft  lead,  a mold  should  last 
indefinitely. 

Pure  lead,  however,  is  difficult  to  lo- 
cate. A plumbing  store  is  a good  place  to 
start  your  search.  You  may  have  to  pay 
top  price,  but  even  for  a few  dollars  you'll 
wind  up  with  enough  lead  to  make  hundreds 
of  shad  darts,  certainly  enough  for  you 
and  a few  friends  for  an  entire  season. 

Service  stations  and  tire  stores  are  other 
good  locations  where  lead  can  be  ob- 
tained. Wheel  weights  are  made  of  lead 
and  a courteous  request  for  a small  quan- 
tity will  usually  get  you  enough  for  your 


personal  supply,  if  not  more.  I once  ob- 
tained about  100  pounds  of  pure  lead  for 
$10  at  a backyard  auction.  Another  time 
a relative  of  mine  who  worked  for  a car 
battery  manufacturer  supplied  me  with  a 
few  pounds  (lead  is  used  in  making  car 
batteries).  And  still  another  tie,  a friend 
who  was  a construction  worker  gave  me 
pounds  and  pounds  of  old  lead  water  pipe 
that  was  being  replaced  with  modem  pipe. 

The  key  to  finding  lead  is  to  keep  your 
ears  open  and  don’t  be  afraid  to  ask.  You’ll 
often  get  it  for  nothing  if  you’re  polite. 

Melting  pots 

There  are  some  people  who  melt  lead 
in  iron  pots,  using  a propane  torch  to  pro- 


vide heat.  In  my  estimation,  that  is  rather 
dangerous.  A much  safer  route  is  to  pur- 
chase an  electric  melting  pot.  There  are 
several  good  ones  on  the  market. 

Lee  Precision,  Inc.,  of  Hartford,  WI, 
makes  two  models  that  are  just  right  for 
the  home  hobbyist  or  the  person  who  plans 
to  make  darts  for  profit.  One  is  a four- 
pound  capacity  model,  from  which  the 
lead  must  be  dipped  with  a ladle.  The 
other  is  a 10-pound  capacity  model  that  is 
spigot-operated.  Both  models  have  ad- 
justable temperature  controls,  which  should 
be  turned  between  8 and  10  (on  a scale 
of  1 to  10)  at  all  times.  Either  model  is 
fine;  the  choice  is  simply  a matter  of  per- 
sonal preference. 

For  the  shad  dart  maker  who  plans  on 
manufacturing  thousands  of  darts,  the  Hilts 
Company  of  Burbank,  CA,  makes  a model 
called  the  “Ultimate  Inferno,”  which  has 
a 35-pound  capacity,  two  pouring  spigots 
of  different  sizes,  and  a self-skimmer  (to 
skim  dirt  that  floats  to  the  surface  of  the 
lead).  It  also  comes  with  an  ingot  mold. 
The  temperature  is  pre-set;  there  is  no  con- 
trol. The  “Ultimate  Inferno”  is  not  in- 
expensive. It  retails  for  approximately  $150. 

There  are  two  things  to  remember  about 
melting  lead:  You  must  keep  it  hot  and 
you  must  keep  it  clean.  Cold  lead  will  not 
fill  the  cavities  of  your  mold  and  dirt  will 
keep  your  lead  from  attaining  the  proper 
temperature,  as  well  as  clog  the  spigot  on 
your  melting  pot.  Unless  you  own  the 
“Ultimate  Inferno”  with  its  self-skimmer, 
you  must  continually  skim  the  dirt  from 
your  lead  with  a small  ladle,  which  can 
be  fashioned  from  an  old  soup  spoon. 

There  are  precautions  to  take  when  us- 
ing lead.  The  first  is  to  have  good  venti- 
lation, to  disperse  the  fumes,  and  the  sec- 
ond is  to  refrain  from  drinking  beverages 
near  the  melted  lead.  A drop  of  liquid 
spilled  in  a hot  lead  pot  could  splash  lead 
everywhere,  including  your  face  or  eyes. 

Molds  and  hooks 

There  are  two  ways  to  go  with  shad  dart 
molds — the  custom-made  route  or  the 
commercial  route.  Either  way,  you  won't 
go  wrong. 

Molds  custom-made  by  master  machin- 
ists are  expensive  (anywhere  from  $60  to 
$125  or  more,  but  they  will  make  a clean 
dart  that  can  be  painted  as  soon  as  it  cools 
after  you  pour  it.  Custom  molds  can  be 
made  to  an  angler’s  specifications.  If  your 
favorite  shad  dart  is  a g-ounce  “fat  belly” 
model  poured  on  a size  1 hook,  you  can 
take  a sample  to  a machinist  and  he'll 
fashion  a mold  that  will  reproduce  your 


Use  gold-plated  short-shanked  hooks  for  shad  darts,  like  the 
Must  ad  575  or  the  Eagle  Claw  32762.  Vinyl  paint  is  also  best, 
and  be  sure  to  apply  a base  coat  of  white.  Traditional  tails  are 
made  of  calf  tail.  Use  nylon  thread  in  sizes  A or  00.  When  you 
melt  lead  to  make  darts,  be  sure  to  take  the  proper 
safety  precautions. 


18  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Dennis  Scholl 


dart  exactly,  and  specifically  for  the  size 
1 hook. 

A custom  mold  also  can  be  produced 
with  as  many  cavities  as  you'd  like,  up  to 
a certain  point.  I own  two  custom  molds 
that  make  12  darts  each.  I also  have  a pair 
of  other  molds  that  produce  two  darts,  and 
one  that  makes  a single  dart.  All  my  cus- 
tom molds  are  equipped  with  sprue  cut- 
ters, which  cut  off  the  bothersome  pieces 
of  lead  (sprues)  that  remain  attached  to  the 
top  of  the  dart  after  it  is  poured.  Com- 
mercial molds  are  not  equipped  with  sprue 
cutters.  The  sprues  must  be  cut  away  and 
then  filed  for  the  dart  to  have  a neat  ap- 
pearance. 

Nonetheless,  there  are  commercial  molds 
that  make  fine  darts.  The  Hilts  Company 
produces  four  different  shad  dart  molds, 
each  containing  six  cavities  and  each  ma- 
chined for  a particular  weight  dart.  The 
weights  are  ^-ounce,  rg,  g and  5.  Hilts 
molds  are  designed  to  accept  an  Eagle 
Claw  Model  575  or  Mustad  32762  gold- 
plated  jig  hook,  both  of  which  are  extra 
short-shank  models. 

The  Do-It  Company  of  Denver,  IA,  has 
a fine  multi-cavity  mold  that  will  make 
seven  darts  of  varying  sizes,  including  m- 
ounce,  tg,  g,  5,  I,  5,  and  f.  Hook  sizes 
necessary  for  the  mold  are  sizes  6,  4,  2, 
1,  1/0,  2/0  and  3/0.  Eagle  Claw  Model 
575  or  Mustad  Model  32756,  also  a gold- 
plated  model,  are  required. 

Do-It  makes  two  other  shad  dart  molds, 
one  a seven-cavity  model  that  makes  four 
g-ounce  darts  and  three  j-ounce  darts. 
Again,  Eagle  Claw  575  or  Mustad  32756 
hooks  in  sizes  2 and  2/0  are  required.  Do- 
lt’s third  mold  makes  four  each  of  3^-  and 
g^th-ounce  darts.  Eagle  Claw  575  or  Mus- 
tad 32756  hooks  in  sizes  8 or  10  for  the 
M-ounce  darts  and  sizes  6 or  8 for  the  Tr- 
ounce darts  are  required. 

Gold-plated  hooks  are  not  an  absolute 
necessity,  but  they  are  recommended.  Shad 
seem  to  have  an  affinity  for  the  color  gold. 
You  will  not  catch  as  many  shad  on  bronze 
or  tinned  hooks.  Most  tackle  shops  carry 
shad  dart  hooks,  but  if  you  can’t  find  them 
write  to  Eagle  Claw  in  Denver  CO,  or 
Mustad  in  Auburn,  NY,  for  information 
regarding  local  dealers. 

Paint 

Believe  me  when  I say  I have  tried  just 
about  every  type  of  paint  on  shad  darts. 
And  after  running  through  the  gamut,  I 
have  settled  on  what  I believe  is  the  best 
jig  paint  available — vinyl  paint  produced 
by  Component  Systems  of  Wausau,  WI. 

I have  been  painting  with  Component 


Systems  products  for  about  four  years  and 
have  had  very  good  luck.  You  can  ham- 
mer your  darts  after  they've  been  painted 
and  the  paint  will  bend  with  the  lead  but 
not  break  or  chip.  That  is  not  to  say  your 
darts  won’t  chip  in  the  river  after  repeated 
use,  but  they  won’t  chip  nearly  as  fast  as 
darts  painted  with  lacquer  or  enamel. 

One  other  advantage  the  vinyl  paints 
have  is  that  they  come  in  a variety  of 
colors,  including  all  the  popular  fluores- 
cent shades  in  use  on  the  Delaware.  The 
traditional  reds,  whites  and  yellows  are 
available  as  well  as  black,  brown,  purple, 
green  and  orange.  Component  Systems  also 
produces  a clear  vinyl  that  should  be  used 
as  a finishing  coat,  especially  if  you  want 
to  get  the  full  brightness  from  your  flu- 
orescent colors.  If  you  paint  with  enamel 
or  lacquer,  coat  your  darts  with  polyure- 
thane and  allow  them  to  dry  24  hours.  It 
will  make  them  somewhat  more  durable. 

I dip  my  darts,  and  pour  my  paint  from 
pint  cans  into  four-ounce  plastic  or  glass 
containers,  making  sure  the  lids  are  very 
tight  when  not  in  use — this  way  all  my 
paint  will  not  thicken  at  once  because  of 
exposure  to  the  air. 

You  must  apply  a base  coat  of  white  to 
your  darts  if  you  want  them  to  take  on  the 
full  color  of  the  shade  you  plan  to  have 
as  the  main  body  color.  If  you  want  to 
make  a white  body/red  head  dart,  apply 
one  coat  of  base  white  and  a second  coat 
of  white  as  the  body  color.  For  fluores- 
cent-bodied darts,  I suggest  two  coats  of 
white  before  the  Fluorescent  shade. 

To  paint  the  head  of  the  dart  hold  the 
dart  upside  down,  grasp  the  hook  at  its 
bend  with  pliers,  and  dip  the  head  of  the 
dart  into  your  paint.  When  dipping,  hold 
the  face  of  the  dart  parallel  to  the  surface 
of  the  paint,  or  at  a slight  angle.  If  your 
paint  is  the  proper  consistency,  which  can 
only  be  judged  after  gaining  experience, 
a clean  head  line  should  be  attained.  Use 
only  a vinyl  thinner  with  vinyl  paint,  and 
begin  with  a small  amount  before  working 
your  way  up. 

The  most  common  problem  among  new 
shad  dart  painters  is  that  they  have  trouble 
keeping  drops  of  paint  from  drying  on  the 
head  of  the  dart.  That’s  simply  because 
they  try  to  paint  one  dart  at  a time  and 
don't  have  the  patience  to  wait  for  the  last 
drop  to  develop.  It  always  winds  up  drying 
on  the  head  of  the  dart  and  chips  the  sec- 
ond it  hits  a rock. 

I manage  to  get  away  from  this  problem 
by  painting  six  to  eight  darts  in  succession 
and  then  hanging  them  on  a rack.  By  the 
time  I’ve  dipped  the  last  dart,  the  last  drop 


of  paint  on  the  first  dart  is  ready  to  be 
wiped  off  on  the  edge  of  the  paint  con- 
tainer. 

One  note  about  painting:  It  takes  prac- 
tice. Don’t  expect  to  learn  everything  the 
first  time,  especially  when  it  comes  to  at- 
taining the  proper  consistency. 

Tail  materials,  thread 

After  you've  painted  your  darts,  you 
can  put  them  in  your  tackle  box  and  take 
them  to  the  river.  They  really  don’t  need 
tails  to  catch  shad. 

But  most  shad  fishermen  choose  to  fes- 
toon their  darts  with  tails  that  extend  about 
3-inch  behind  the  bend  of  the  hook.  The 
traditional  tail  material  is  calf  tail,  which 
comes  in  a variety  of  colors  but  is  most 
often  seen  in  white  and  yellow.  It  is  thin 
and  has  good  action  under  water.  Don't 
use  bucktail  from  deer.  It  is  far  too  coarse 
for  small  jigs  and  is  also  hollow,  which 
keeps  a dart  from  sinking  as  fast  as  most 
good  shad  fishermen  would  like. 

There  are  also  some  synthetics  in  use 
today.  The  Fishhair  Corporation  of  St.  Paul, 
MN,  produces  a polar  bear  hair  imitation 
called  Fishhair,  which  is  suitable  for  shad 
darts.  There  are  two  other  fly  tying  syn- 
thetics, Flashabou  and  Crystal  Hair,  that 
make  fine  tails  as  well.  They  are  a bit  more 
difficult  to  tie  than  calf  tail,  but  are  quite 
flashy  under  water. 

1 tied  tails  with  pearlescent  Flashabou 
for  the  first  time  last  season  and  had  good 
results.  In  fact,  by  season's  end.  I was 
using  Flashabou-tailed  darts  exclusively. 

One  other  tail  option,  if  you're  not 
adept  at  tying,  is  to  use  mini-size  Mr. 
Twister  tails,  which  are  simply  slipped 
over  the  hook.  A lot  of  shad  fishermen 
swear  by  them. 

If  you  plan  to  tie  tails  on  to  your  darts, 
you'll  need  scissors  to  cut  the  material,  a 
fly  tying  bobbin  to  hold  your  thread,  fly 
tying  head  cement  or  clear  fingernail  pol- 
ish to  glue  the  half-hitch  or  whip  finish 
knots  you'll  be  putting  in  your  wrap,  and 
a dubbing  needle  or  similar  device  to  apply 
the  glue. 

Thread  should  be  made  of  nylon,  in 
sizes  A or  00.  Size  A is  strong  enough  for 
any  shad  dart.  The  finer  size  (K)  is  for  the 
more  experienced  tyers  who  are  looking 
for  a neat  appearance.  The  Gudebrod 
Company  of  Pottstown,  PA,  and  the  Dan- 
ville Company  of  South  Danville,  NH, 
produce  excellent  thread. 

The  only  other  thing  left  is  to  get  busy. 
And  don't  wait  too  long.  The  shad  are 
almost  ready  to  make  their  way  up  the 
Delaware  River. 

March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


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These  ideas  can  save  you  time  and  money. 
They  may  even  let  you  salvage  a vacation. 


20  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Swenson  trailers  his  16-foot  runabout 
from  his  Harrisburg  home  to  many  launch 
ramps  in  Pennsylvania.  He  also  trailers  his 
boat  to  the  New  Jersey  shore  and  Ches- 
apeake Bay.  These  jaunts  are  round-trip 
drives  of  6-12  hours. 

Last  year  his  spring  and  summer  out- 
ings were  uneventful.  Then  in  late  Sep- 
tember on  the  way  to  Erie,  the  rusted  bear- 
ings in  his  trailer’s  left  hub  froze.  He  had 
no  repair  equipment  and  no  spare  parts, 
and  he  had  no  idea  what  was  wrong  except 
that  the  wheel  whistled  and  smoked. 

By  the  time  he  made  it  to  Erie,  two 
days  later  than  expected,  the  repair  bill 
and  extra  motel  expense  totaled  $200.  The 
ordeal  cost  him  much  more  in  wasted  time, 
aggravation  and  losing  part  of  his  hard- 
earned  vacation. 

Regularly  maintaining  and  servicing  your 
trailer  and  tow  vehicle  practically  ensures 


on  the  Long  Haul 


by  Art  Michaels 


that  you’ll  have  no  problems  on  the  road. 
But  if  your  trailer  breaks  down  far  away 
from  home,  your  fishing  trip,  and  perhaps 
your  vacation,  may  be  mined,  as  was  Jim’s 
Erie  trip.  With  a few  tools  and  spare  items, 
and  some  practice  in  repairing  and  re- 
placing your  trailer’s  parts,  you  can  keep 
yourself  on  the  road  at  least  long  enough 
to  get  your  rig  to  a dealer.  You  might  also 
save  a lot  of  money  in  costly  repair  bills, 
and  you  could  even  salvage  your  vacation. 

Here  are  10  practical  ideas  for  long- 
distance trailering. 

1 Spare  tire,  lugs.  You’d  be  sur- 
prised how  many  people  bring  none 
on  a long-distance  jaunt.  Just  ask 
your  marine  dealer  if  you  don’t  believe  it. 

It's  a good  idea  to  buy  a brand  new 
spare  tire  mounted  on  a correctly  sized  rim 
for  the  long  haul.  Air  it  up  fully  at  the 
beginning  of  each  trip.  If  you’re  lucky, 
the  spare  tire  will  be  your  constant  com- 
panion on  your  fishing  trips  and  you’ll 
never  have  to  use  it. 


Be  sure  also  to  carry  spare  wheel  lugs 
that  are  sized  correctly  for  your  hubs.  If 
yours  are  odd-sized  and  you  break  a few 
along  the  way,  you'll  be  glad  you  have 
extras. 

2 Tire  pressure  gauge.  You  need  a 
reliable  one  because  service  station 
pump  indications  aren't  always  ac- 
curate. I use  a bicycle  tire  gauge  that  mea- 
sures up  to  120psi.  Trailer  tires  often  re- 
quire about  60psi  or  more,  but  many 
automobile  tire  gauges  measure  only 
to  50psi.  The  bicycle  gauge  gives  accu- 
rate readings  for  trailer  tires  well  within 
its  range. 

Tire  pressure  is  an  important  consid- 
eration because  improper  inflation  can  cause 
excessive  heat,  and  heat  is  a tire’s  enemy. 
Excessive  heat  on  the  long  haul  is  caused 
by  underiniiating  the  tires  or  overloading 
the  trailer.  An  underinflated  tire  or  an 
overload  causes  tires  to  flex  more  than 
they  should,  creating  heat.  Excessive  heat 
causes  the  vulcanizing  compound  that  holds 


the  rubber  to  the  tire  cords  to  weaken.  This 
gives  you  poor  tread  wear,  and  it  could 
cause  chunking — pieces  of  the  tread  ac- 
tually come  out  of  the  tire.  If  the  tire  weak- 
ens enough  in  some  places,  you  could  have 
a blow-out. 

The  best  insurance  against  this  problem 
is  keeping  the  tires  inflated  at  their  max- 
imum pressure,  listed  on  the  tires.  While 
on  the  road,  check  your  tires  now  and 
then.  Normal  use  makes  trailer  tires  warm. 
If  the  tires  feel  hot.  you  probably  have  an 
inflation  problem. 

That’s  why  you  need  a reliable  tire  pres- 
sure gauge.  You  can  feel  the  trailer  tires 
as  a safety  precaution,  but  measure  infla- 
tion pressure  with  the  gauge,  not  by  your 
assessment  of  the  tire's  heat. 

Make  sure  on  the  long  haul  that  you 
don't  overload  the  trailer.  Do  you  know 
how  much  your  trailer  weighs  fully  loaded, 
and  whether  your  trailer  is  actually  the 
proper  size  for  your  fully  loaded  rig? 

To  find  out,  weigh  it  at  a truck  stop. 
The  cost  is  usually  about  $1  per  axle. 

The  weight  of  your  boat  and  everything 
in  it,  plus  the  weight  of  the  trailer,  should 
be  less  than  the  maximum  load  rate  of 
your  trailer.  This  calculation  lets  you  know 
if  your  trailer  is  actually  the  right  size  for 
your  rig. 

The  weight  of  your  rig  fully  loaded 
should  not  exceed  the  load  rating  of  the 
trailer  tires.  For  instance,  if  your  trailer 
has  two  tires  each  rated  for  780  pounds 
maximum  at  60psi,  the  total  weight  of 
your  fully  loaded  boat,  motor  and  trailer 
should  not  exceed  1 .560  pounds  (2  x 780 
= 1,560). 

Remember  to  distribute  the  weight  on 
your  trailer  evenly. 

Jack,  lug  wrench.  Make  sure  your 
tire  jack  fits  your  trailer.  You  don't 
want  to  be  disappointed  the  moment 
you  actually  need  the  thing.  You  can  save 
space  if  you  use  a jack  that  works  on  both 
your  tow  vehicle  and  on  your  boat  trailer. 

Know  how  to  use  the  jack  properly  and 
make  sure  it  works  before  you  go.  Practice 
jacking  up  the  trailer  in  the  safe  confines 
of  your  driveway  if  it’s  level,  or  in  a level, 
empty  parking  lot.  It’s  better  to  work  out 
all  the  kinks  in  practice  than  to  play  it  by 
ear  on  a dark  highway  hundreds  of  miles 
from  home. 

Furthermore,  your  tow  vehicle  wheel 
lugs  and  your  trailer  wheel  lugs  may  be 
sized  differently.  Make  sure  you  earn' 
the  right  lug  wrench  or  wrenches  to  fit 
both  sizes. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


Regularly 
servicing  and 
maintaining  your 
trailer  and  tow 
vehicle  practically 
ensures  that 
you'll  have  no 
problems  on 
the  road. 

Winch  rope  or  cable.  Carry  a spare 
with  an  extra  snap.  Check  the  rope 
or  cable  before  you  leave.  If  it  shows 
signs  of  fraying,  replace  it  before  the  trip. 

Always  hook  up  a safety  chain  at  the 
bow.  Never  rely  solely  on  the  bow  hook 
to  hold  your  boat  bow  in  place.  A safety 
chain  holds  the  boat  on  the  trailer  if  your 
winch  rope  or  cable  fails,  thus  preventing 
a highway  emergency  and  great  damage. 

Hubs,  bearings.  If  you  service  your 
trailer  hubs  properly,  your  will  likely 
have  no  problems.  But  for  long- 
distance jaunts,  consider  these  details  just 
in  case  you  run  into  trouble. 

You  need  to  know  the  correct  sizes  of 
bearings,  races,  seals  and  cotter  pins  be- 
fore you  can  replace  these  parts.  Make 
sure  your  spare  parts  match  what's  already 
on  your  trailer.  Remove  one  hub  assembly 
and  read  the  numbers  on  the  parts.  Write 
down  the  numbers  so  you  won't  forget 
them.  Match  your  spare  parts  with  these 
numbered  parts. 

Boat  trailers  rated  for  light  loads  usually 
have  straight  spindles  with  inner  and  outer 
bearings  of  the  same  size.  Trailers  meant 
for  heavier  loads  often  have  tapered  axle 
spindles.  This  means  that  the  inner  and 
outer  bearings  will  be  sized  differently. 

In  addition,  trailers  with  brakes  are  often 
equipped  with  double-lip  inside  seals.  These 
seals  offer  greater  protection  to  prevent 
grease  “blow-by.”  In  a blow-by,  grease 
escapes  past  the  inside  seal,  gets  onto  the 
spindle  and  could  eventually  leak  onto  the 
trailer  brake  shoes,  thus  making  them 
unsafe. 

Ask  your  dealer  to  help  you  determine 
which  specific  spare  parts  you  need.  This 
move  is  important.  You  can’t  fix  your  trailer 
with  the  wrong  spare  parts. 

Ask  the  dealer  also  to  show  you  how 
to  replace  your  bearings,  seals  and  hubs. 

A good  strategy  for  long-distance  trail  - 


ering  is  to  carry  one  complete  spare  hub 
with  packed  bearings  and  a spare  cotter 
pin.  In  this  way,  if  you  need  to  replace  a 
bearing  or  a seal,  you  just  replace  the  en- 
tire hub  assembly.  This  procedure  is  ac- 
tually simpler  and  faster  for  on-the-road 
repairs  than  what's  required  to  replace  a 
bearing  or  a seal  by  taking  apart  the  hub 
assembly. 

Carry  the  spare  packed  hub  in  a sealable 
plastic  freezer  bag.  This  keeps  it  clean. 

6 Bearing  protectors.  1 wouldn't 
dream  of  trailering  without  bearing 
protectors,  especially  on  long-dis- 
tance trips.  When  you  launch  your  boat, 
bearings  are  warm  from  trailering.  Cooler 
water,  even  in  the  heat  of  midsummer, 
causes  the  hot  air  in  the  hubs  to  cool  and 
condense.  This  change  in  pressure  creates 
a vacuum  that  draws  water  and  dirt  into 
the  hubs.  If  the  water  and  dirt  aren't  re- 
moved, sooner  or  later  they  will  cause  the 
bearings  to  corrode,  rust,  or  pit. 

Bearing  protectors  prevent  water  from 
entering  the  hubs.  They  exert  slight,  con- 
stant pressure  that  holds  the  grease  against 
the  bearings.  This  stops  water  from  en- 
tering and  thus  protects  your  bearings. 

Carry  one  spare  bearing  protector  on 
long-distance  trips. 

7 Grease  gun.  If  you  tote  a complete 
spare  hub  packed  with  grease, 
chances  are  you  don't  need  a grease 
gun.  Still.  1 take  one  because  during  heavy 
use  I give  each  hub  a little  shot  of  grease 
every  so  often,  through  the  bearing  pro- 
tector. 

Carry  a grease  gun  with  an  extra  tube 
of  lithium-based,  high-temperature  grease. 
Lithium-based  grease  is  more  water-re- 
sistant than  other  kinds  of  grease,  and  the 
high-temperature  grease  best  suits  wheel 
bearings. 

You’ll  find  a variety  of  grease  guns  and 
grease  containers  in  marine  supply  stores 
and  automotive  supply  stores. 

A caution  about  grease:  Do  not  overfill 
your  hubs  with  grease.  This  could  blow 
the  seals,  even  though  most  bearing  pro- 
tectors have  a pressure  relief  feature.  This 
usually  consists  of  a small  hole  in  the  bear- 
ing protector  that  lets  the  extra  grease  snake 
its  way  out  onto  the  bearing  protector. 

Read  the  maintenance  instructions  care- 
fully for  your  bearing  protectors.  Know 
when  they  are  filled  properly. 

8 Emergency  light.  I carry  a flash- 
light with  fresh  alkaline  batteries  and 
a small,  powerful  lamp  with  a long 


cord  that  plugs  into  my  tow  vehicle’s  cig- 
arette lighter.  1 also  have  a device  for  the 
light  with  a 10-foot  cord  that  lets  me  hook 
up  the  light  directly  to  the  boat  battery.  If 
I need  to  check  something  or  repair  an 
item,  the  lights  turn  darkness  into  sunlight. 

A long  cord  on  the  lamp  lets  you  reach 
the  length  of  your  trailer.  Even  during  day- 
light hours,  you  need  the  lights  to  check 
beneath  your  trailered  boat,  for  instance, 
or  to  peer  inside  a wheel  hub. 

9 Tow  vehicle.  Your  trailer  might  be 
in  tiptop  shape,  but  if  your  tow  ve- 
hicle breaks  down,  you’re  just  as 
stuck  as  if  your  trailer  broke  down.  Be 
sure  your  tow  vehicle  is  serviced  properly 
for  a long  trip,  or  for  a season  of  trips. 

What  if  your  tow  vehicle  breaks  down? 
If  you  trailer  a lot.  it  might  be  wise  to  join 
an  automobile  or  travel  club  that  features 
free  towing  service  as  part  of  membership. 
This  might  save  you  time  and  money. 

If  your  tow  vehicle  needs  to  be  towed 
to  a garage  for  repairs,  have  the  service- 
man take  your  tow  vehicle  by  itself  to  the 
garage  and  then  come  back  for  your  trail- 
ered boat.  Towing  your  tow  vehicle  with 
your  trailered  boat  attached  can  be  done, 
but  the  heavier  the  rig.  the  more  dangerous 
this  practice  becomes.  It's  better  to  foot 
the  extra  expense  of  having  the  service- 
man return  for  the  boat  and  tow  it  sepa- 
rately to  the  garage. 

Tools,  tool  box.  My  tools  in- 
clude wrenches,  pliers,  screw 
drivers,  a ball  peen  hammer, 
small  2x4  (for  removing  and  installing 
bearing  protectors),  grease  gun,  extra  tube 
of  grease,  emergency  lights  and  spare  parts. 
I carry  all  my  trailer  repair  tools  and  spare 
items  in  their  own  box.  Nine  out  of  10 
times  the  box  stays  in  the  back  of  the 
van  and  during  my  trips  1 hardly  think 
about  it. 

I bought  separate  tools  for  my  trailer 
repair  kit  from  the  tools  I use  around  the 
house.  In  this  way  I know  that  on  a cold, 
rainy  highway  at  midnight  the  ball  peen 
hammer  and  my  pliers  are  in  the  repair  kit 
when  I might  need  them,  not  sitting  on 
the  washing  machine  at  home,  347  miles 


For  their  technical  assistance  with  this 
manuscript , the  author  thanks  the  fol- 
lowing: Gary  McPherson,  Load  Rite 
Trailers:  Load  Eaz  Trailers;  BF Good- 
rich: Carlisle  Tire  & Rubber  Company; 
Lakeside  Marine,  Harrisburg;  and  the 
Commission  Bureau  of  Boating. 


ii 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Kermit  Hennina 


Perch -Type  Lures: 

MTOR  CONTOO 


by  Kermit  G.  Henning 

Walk  into  any  tackle  shop  and  check  the 
displays  of  lures  for  sale.  Mind-boggling, 
isn’t  it?  Lure  manufacturers  have  come  up 
with  baits  that  fit  almost  any  fishing  sit- 
uation— deep-running  lures,  shallow  lures; 
big  lures,  small  lures;  plastic,  wood  or 
metal  lures;  attractor  baits  or  life-like  cop- 
ies; lures  that  swim,  buzz,  wiggle,  pop, 
gurgle  or  rattle.  All  in  all,  so  many  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  lures  that  picking  the  right 
one  ends  up  a frustrating  task. 

One  of  the  first  things  you  must  con- 
sider when  shopping  for  lures  is  the  type 
of  fish  you’re  trying  to  catch.  If  you’re 
fishing  for  catfish,  for  instance,  you  would 
probably  not  choose  the  same  lure  as  if 
you  were  after  trout.  Likewise,  trophy 
northern  pike  fishing  would  necessitate 
something  other  than  panfish  lures. 

The  second  consideration  in  picking  a 
lure  is  where  you  are  going  to  fish.  If 
you're  on  a small  stream,  you  need  light, 
shallow-running  lures.  Conversely,  if 
you’re  on  a big  lake  after  bottom  feeders 
or  suspended  fish,  diving  and  sinking  lures 
are  in  order. 

Keeping  these  two  factors  in  mind,  con- 
sider the  types  of  natural  food  available  in 
the  water  you’re  fishing.  We’re  all  famil- 
iar with  the  fly-fishing  purists  who  try  their 
best  to  “match  the  hatch’’  of  insects  on 
any  particular  stream.  We  may  scoff  at 
them  trying  to  catch  a lunker  brown  trout 
on  a size  32  midge,  but  the  fact  is,  if  that’s 
what  the  trout  want,  it  would  be  foolish 
to  use  anything  else. 

Pick  a lure  that  matches  the  fish  you're 
after,  the  water  you’re  fishing,  and  the 
natural  food  available. 

“Food” 

One  of  the  most  abundant  fish  “foods” 
available  in  most  Pennsylvania  lakes  and 
ponds  is  the  yellow  perch.  And  consid- 
ering the  wide  range  of  this  gregarious 
panfish,  it’s  no  wonder  that  lure  manu- 
facturers offer  perch-type  lures  in  all  sizes 
and  styles.  Yellow  perch  are  found  from 
the  Hudson  Bay  drainage  of  northern  Can- 
ada all  the  way  south  to  North  Carolina 
and  as  far  west  as  Kansas  and  Missouri. 

This  area  just  happens  to  overlap  the 
range  of  many  predator  fish  such  as  the 


muskellunge,  northern  pike  and  wall- 
eye— all  of  which  consider  the  yellow  perch 
a delicacy  and  a main  part  of  their  diets. 
Even  largemouth  and  smallmouth  bass,  to 
a smaller  extent,  feed  on  perch  if  avail- 
able. 

Yellow  perch,  depending  on  their  size, 
can  be  found  in  almost  any  part  of  a lake. 
Smaller  fish  hang  around  shallow  brush 
piles  in  protected  bays  and  coves  (where 
predator  fish  come  to  feed),  and  larger 
perch  suspend  in  water  up  to  30  feet  (the 
same  as  walleye). 

Like  the  trout  fisherman,  then,  you  only 
need  to  "match  the  hatch.”  If  you're  fish- 
ing for  northerns  or  muskies,  cast  your 
shallow-running  imitation  perch  through 
the  shallows  in  the  early  morning  or  late 
afternoon  and  evening.  Go  deep  with  div- 
ing crankbaits  during  the  day  to  get  sus- 
pended fish,  including  walleye. 

A perch  finish  is  even  available  on  spin- 
nerbaits  that  you  can  cast  in  and  around 
cover  for  bass. 


Size 

Size,  too,  is  very  important.  When 
walleye  chase  schools  of  smaller  baitfish 
into  the  shallows  where  they  can  easily 
catch  them,  here’s  where  smaller  and  thin- 
ner crankbaits  and  plugs  work  best.  In 
deeper  water,  when  walleye  are  sus- 
pended. it  takes  a much  bigger  offering  to 
interest  them. 

Northerns  and  muskies,  however,  es- 
pecially larger  ones,  are  rarely  interested 
in  wasting  their  time  and  effort  to  catch  a 
small  perch.  Even  big  perch  are  not  too 
big  a meal  for  such  giant  predators.  To 
catch  them,  use  big,  perch-colored  lures 
that  more  closely  resemble  their  natural 
diet. 

Several  years  ago  a friend  and  I were 
perch  fishing  in  Lake  Marburg,  York 
County.  We  were  catching  perch  of  1-2 
pounds  about  as  fast  as  we  could  bnng 
them  in.  We  had  already  caught  a bunch 
when  right  in  the  middle  of  another  re- 
trieve, a giant  northern  cut  my  latest  perch 
in  half,  not  10  feet  from  the  boat. 

That  made  a believer  out  of  me  and  I've 
been  stuffing  tackle  boxes  ever  since  with 
any  perch-colored  lure  I can  find.  I’m  very 
seldom  disappointed. 

[pa] 


Yellow  perch  are  one  of  the  most 
abundant  fish  "foods”  in  Pennsylvania 
lakes  and  ponds.  That' s why  perch- 
patterned  lures  can  help  you  score  well. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


Crank  bait 
Tips 


by  J.  B.  Kasper 
photos  by  the  author 


The  textbook  definition  of  crankbait  is  any 
lure  that  is  cast  out  and  retrieved  or  cranked 
back  to  the  fisherman.  All  lures  achieve 
that  end.  But  a better  definition  of  a crank- 
bait  is  a plug  that  is  made  to  imitate  a 
forage  fish  and  is  used  by  retrieving  and 
imparting  an  action  that  makes  it  look 
realistic. 

You  may  have  noticed  that  1 used  the 
word  plug',  many  fishermen  consider  spin- 
ners, spinnerbaits  and  spoons,  to  be  crank- 
baits.  They  are  not.  Within  the  realm  of 
crankbaits  there  are  several  different  cat- 
egories. The  first  is  the  minnow-type  plug 
(Red  Fins,  Rapalas,  and  Rebels,  for  ex- 
ample); the  second  includes  the  alphabet 
lures  (Big  “O,”  Deep  Wee  R,  Kill'R  “B”); 
and  the  third  group  has  the  jump-type  lures 
(L&S,  Spot),  which  can  either  be  retrieved 
steadily  or  jumped  around  with  a stop-and- 
go  motion. 

Each  of  these  crankbait  categories  can 
be  made  in  deep-diving  and  shallow-run- 
ning styles.  Some  use  weight  to  make  them 
run  deeper  than  others  and  some  use  larger 
bibs  to  achieve  the  same  results.  In  a few 
cases,  both  added  weight  and  larger  bibs 
are  used  to  give  the  plugs  the  deepest  range 
possible.  One  thing  that  the  fisherman 
should  remember  is  that  the  floating  va- 
riety of  crankbaits  is  more  versatile  than 
the  weighted,  sinking  type. 

A science  has  evolved  around  the  use 
of  these  lures.  Ways  of  making  them  do 
some  things  that  even  the  manufacturers 
never  though  of  have  been  developed  by 
ingenious  anglers.  Let  these  ideas  help  you 
use  crankbaits  better  and  make  them  more 
productive  for  you. 

Split  rings 

Most  manufacturers  will  tell  you  that 
the  action  they  build  into  their  crankbaits 
is  irresistible  to  fish.  Over  the  years  I have 
found  that  it  is  always  best  to  put  your 
own  action  into  your  crankbaits.  To  do 
this,  there  is  one  step  that  you  should  take 
with  every  one  of  your  crankbaits.  Crank- 
baits always  give  you  better  action  if  you 
place  a split  ring  on  the  eye  and  tie  the 
line  to  it  rather  than  directly  to  the  eye.  A 
split  ring  allows  the  plug  to  pivot  at  the 
eye  as  it  vibrates  and  wobbles.  This  action 


far  surpasses  the  action  of  a plug  that  is 
tied  directly  to  the  line.  You  might  think 
that  the  same  results  could  be  achieved 
through  the  use  of  a snap  swivel  or  a plain 
snap.  This  is  true,  but  one  thing  you  will 
find  out  about  using  crankbaits  is  that  they 
exert  a lot  of  pressure  on  your  line  and 
tend  to  stretch  the  line  more  than  other 
types  of  lures. 

This  is  especially  so  when  using  them 
in  a current.  Most  fishermen  use  the  same 
knot  time  after  time  when  they  use  a snap 
swivel  or  wire  snap,  even  though  they 
change  lures  very  often.  As  a result,  just 
about  the  time  he  hooks  that  trophy  fish, 
the  knot  gives  way  and  his  trophy  takes 
off.  If  an  angler  uses  a split  ring,  he  has 
to  tie  a fresh  knot  each  time  he  changes 
his  lure.  This  ensures  that  he  is  using  a 
strong  knot.  If  you  use  a certain  lure  for 
any  length  of  time,  it  is  always  best  to 
re-tie  the  knot  every  so  often,  just  as  in- 
surance. 


Adjusting  the  eye 

Another  way  of  getting  the  most  out  of 
your  crankbaits  is  to  adjust  the  eye  of  the 
plug  to  make  it  ran  in  different  directions. 
This  comes  in  handy  when  fishing  dams, 
rock  piles  and  walls,  for  instance.  In  these 
places  one  of  the  best  ways  of  fishing  a 
crankbait  is  to  make  it  bounce  into  the 
object.  Bending  the  eye  of  your  crankbait 
helps  you  do  this.  If  you  want  your  crank- 
bait to  swim  to  the  right,  bend  the  eye 
with  a pair  of  pliers  to  the  left,  and  vice 
versa.  To  make  your  lure  dive  deeper  you 
can  bend  the  eye  upward;  to  make  it  swim 
shallower  you  bend  it  downward. 

Another  way  of  doctoring  your  crank- 
bait is  to  drill  small  holes  into  it  along  the 
bottom  side,  which  allows  water  to  get 
inside  it  while  you  are  working  it.  This 
adds  weight  to  a crankbait,  allowing  it  to 
ran  deeper  at  slower  speeds.  I have  several 
of  these  lures  that  have  been  altered  in  this 
manner  and  they  make  excellent  lures  to 
fish  during  the  early  season  when  the  water 
is  on  the  cool  side  and  you  want  your 
crankbaits  to  move  slower. 

A rule  of  thumb  for  giving  action  to  a 
crankbait  is  the  cooler  the  water,  the  slower 
the  action;  the  warmer  the  water,  the  faster 
the  action.  Cooler  water  slows  the  metab- 
olism of  fish  and  the  warmer  water  speeds 
it  up.  This  is  the  reason  for  the  varying 
action  of  your  lure. 

Night  moves 

Crankbaits  make  excellent  choices  for 
the  nighttime  fisherman.  Anglers  who  en- 
joy their  sport  by  the  light  of  the  moon 
will  find  that  dark-color  crankbaits  give 
them  better  results.  This  is  because  most 
of  the  creatures  that  venture  out  into  the 
darkness  are  dark  in  color.  Completely 
black  crankbaits  with  rattles  in  them  make 
deadly  choices  for  the  graveyard-shift 
angler.  However,  they  are  also  hard  to 
come  by. 

If  you  have  a favorite  crankbait  and 
would  like  to  adapt  it  for  nighttime  fishing, 
you  can  use  a Magic  Marker  or  some  plas- 
tic model  paint  to  darken  it,  and  then  seal 
it  with  a coat  of  clear  spray  lacquer.  Never 
try  to  brush  on  the  lacquer.  The  brush 
strokes  smear  the  paint. 

Sometimes  you  will  want  to  add  some 
weight  to  your  crankbait  to  get  it  down 
deeper  than  it  was  intended  to  go.  Whether 
you  use  splitshot,  a bottom-walking  sinker 
or  a slip  sinker,  always  allow  about  18  to 
24  inches  between  your  weight  and  your 
plug.  This  ensures  that  the  added  weight 
will  not  take  away  from  the  action  of  your 
lure.  Remember  also  to  add  only  as  much 


Adjusting  the  eye  of  a crankbait  can 
help  you  make  the  most  of  fishing 
opportunities  with  crankbaits. 


24  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


weight  to  your  lure  as  you  need  to  get  it 
down  to  the  desired  depth.  Too  much 
weight  cuts  down  on  your  striking  power. 

Many  veteran  crankbait  fishermen 
choose  to  use  a teaser  with  their  lures  to 
give  them  a little  added  punch.  Small  rub- 
ber baits,  streamer  flies  and  flicker  spin- 
ners are  some  of  the  choices  that  are  avail- 
able. The  teaser/plug  combination  imitates 
the  action  of  a small  fish  chasing  a baitfish, 
and  double  headers  are  not  uncommon 
while  using  this  type  of  rig.  The  best  way 
to  rig  a teaser/plug  combination  is  to  place 
your  teaser  about  18  inches  above  your 
plug  on  a 6-inch  dropper.  It  is  simple  to 
tie  and  is  very  effective. 

Retrieves 

It  is  always  best  to  impart  your  own 
action  to  your  lures.  Once  you  learn  how 
to  do  this  you  will  develop  confidence  in 
your  lure,  and  this  is  more  important  than 
anything  else. 

Most  fishermen  agree  that  the  lures  that 
produce  the  most  for  them  are  the  ones  in 
which  they  have  the  most  confidence.  A 
good  basic  retrieve  is  a stop-and-go  re- 
trieve. If  you  have  ever  stopped  to  watch 
some  baitfish  move  around,  you  will  see 
that  they  very  seldom  move  in  a straight 
line;  they  dart  from  place  to  place.  A stop- 
and-go  retrieve  imitates  this  type  of  move- 
ment. When  the  water  is  on  the  warm  side, 
don’t  be  afraid  to  make  that  lure  skip 
around. 

The  darting  action,  besides  making  the 
lure  look  more  natural,  accomplishes  two 
things.  First,  it  makes  the  lure  dive  deeper 
and  ride  better  in  a current.  This  can  some- 
times mean  the  difference  between  catch- 
ing fish  and  getting  only  water  hauls.  It 
will  also  automatically  set  the  hook  when 
a fish  strikes.  A steady  retrieve  often  ne- 
cessitates that  you  first  feel  the  fish  and 
then  strike.  A darting  action  is  an  auto- 
matic hook  setter. 

If  you  are  fishing  a waterway  that  has 
a current,  you  can  get  some  extra  distance 
from  your  lure  by  casting  it  into  the  current 
and  allowing  it  to  be  carried  downstream 
along  a current  break  line.  Simply  open 
your  bail  or  free  spool  your  conventional 
outfit  and  the  current  will  do  the  rest.  After 
you  have  achieved  the  distance  you  want, 
you  can  then  start  your  retrieve.  This  trick 
allows  you  to  cover  areas  you  can’t  reach 
even  with  the  best  casts.  It’s  a favorite 
trick  of  walleye  fishermen  who  play 
rivers. 

Another  trick  that  uses  the  current  to 
help  you  get  the  most  from  crankbaits  is 
one  used  by  many  smallmouth  bass  fish- 


Adapt  crankbaits  for  use  in  very 
deep  water  by  using  them  with  a 
Lindy  rig  or  a bait  walker.  In  this 
way  you  can  work  some  crankbaits 
in  water  over  20  feet  deep. 


errnen.  Smallmouths  are  notorious  current 
line  feeders  and  they  often  hold  along  a 
current  line,  awaiting  a free  meal,  espe- 
cially during  the  summer.  Deep-diving 
plugs  can  be  cast  along  these  current  lines 
and  held  in  the  current  by  raising  and  low- 
ering your  rod  tip  in  short,  fast  twitches. 
This  drives  the  plug  down  in  the  same 
spot  until  it  hits  the  bottom.  The  motion 
of  the  plug  bouncing  off  the  bottom  stirs 
up  the  silt,  and  the  vibrations  that  the  plug 
emits  give  the  fish  something  to  home 
in  on. 

Going  deep 

Many  times  you  encounter  objects  such 
as  walls,  pilings  and  steep  dams  that  have 
deep  water  around  them.  During  bright, 
sunny  days,  the  bass  and  other  fish  retreat 
down  into  the  deep  water  and  around  these 
structures.  The  most  common  way  of  fish- 
ing them  is  to  flip  a plastic  worm  or  jig 
combination  into  these  areas.  The  same 
can  be  done  with  certain  crankbaits.  Sink- 
ing-type crankbaits  can  be  cast  close  to 
these  objects  and  allowed  to  sink,  and  then 
jiggled  along  the  bottom.  One  thing  you 
can  do  to  help  make  your  plugs  somewhat 
snagless  is  to  replace  the  treble  hooks  on 
the  plug  with  single  hooks. 

Your  crankbait  can  also  be  adapted  for 
use  in  very  deep  water.  Most  anglers  over- 
look the  crankbait  when  fishing  in  water 
over  20  feet  deep.  The  use  of  a Lindy  rig 
or  bait  walker  can  take  a floating  crankbait 
down  into  the  depths  on  a two-foot  leader. 
Cast  your  rig  and  allow  the  weight  to  hit 
bottom.  The  floating  crankbait  rides  about 
a foot  or  better  off  the  bottom.  This  method 
pays  off  handsomely  for  deep  water  fish 
such  as  walleye  and  smallmouth  bass  in 
lakes  and  rivers. 

There  are  two  ways  to  use  this  rig.  The 
first  is  to  retrieve  it  slowly  along  the  bot- 
tom. This  works  well  on  gravel  or  sandy 
bottoms.  The  other  is  to  raise  and  lower 
the  rod  tip  so  that  the  lure  moves  a few 
feet  at  a time.  This  is  best  used  in  the  deep 
eddies  of  rivers  and  along  the  dropoffs  in 
lakes,  as  well  as  old  stream  channels  in 
reservoirs. 

Crankbaits  are  some  of  the  most  ver- 
satile lures  ever  invented.  They  can  supply 


punch  to  your  fishing  on  the  surface,  in 
the  mid-ranges  and  along  the  bottom.  They 
can  also  be  adapted  for  warmwater  and 
coldwater  use,  and  there  are  many  ways 
to  change  them  to  suit  your  needs.  Keep 
a good  supply  of  crankbaits  on  hand  and 
don’t  be  afraid  to  dip  into  your  box  and 
use  them.  They  might  be  just  what  you 
need  to  make  the  day  a success. 

March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


The  Magic  of  Mud  Run 


Mud  Run  is  located  in  Hickory  Run  State  Park, 
Carbon  County,  in  northeast  Pennsylvania. 


by  George  Smith 

Heavy  dew  from  the  rhododendrons  soaked 
our  clothing  as  we  descended  into  the  nar- 
row gorge.  The  morning  sun  had  just 
peeked  over  the  horizon  and  swirling  fog 
from  the  water  below  began  to  rise  from 
the  ravine.  When  we  reached  the  stream 
the  mist  was  still  locked  in  by  the  steep 
sides  of  the  mountains,  and  the  sun  seemed 
to  be  no  more  than  a dull  moon  struggling 
to  bum  through  the  haze. 

Like  the  sun  we  rose  early,  then  drove 
to  Hickory  Run  State  Park,  Carbon  County, 
to  experience  the  magic  of  Mud  Run. 

Mud  run,  like  most  Pennsylvania  free- 
stone streams,  has  humble  beginnings. 
Unlike  other  streams  Mud  Run  flows 
through  a state  park,  and  provides  pub- 
lic access  to  a waterway  that  harbors  a 
tremendous  population  of  brook  and 
brown  trout. 

From  its  source  near  secluded  wetlands 
near  Long  Pond,  the  gentle  brook  slowly 
trickles  past  Femridge  and  Albrightsville, 
then  gains  size  and  momentum  before  en- 
tering state  park  property.  There,  pro- 
tected by  an  uninviting  gorge,  the  water 
surges  through  deep  pools,  productive 
pocket  water  and  over  gentle  riffles  before 
emptying  into  the  Lehigh  River  south  of 
White  Haven. 

The  section  of  Mud  Run  that  flows 
through  Hickory  Run  State  Park  is  a fly- 
fishing-only project.  Fishing  in  the  2.6- 
mile  stretch  is  limited  to  fly  rods,  fly  reels 
and  fly  lines  with  leaders  that  do  not  ex- 
ceed 1 8 feet.  The  stream  is  open  to  fishing 
year-round,  and  the  daily  creel  limit  is 
three  fish,  nine  inches  in  length,  except 
during  the  period  March  I to  the  opening 
of  the  regular  trout  season  when  no  trout 
may  be  had  in  possession. 

Anglers  who  make  the  hike  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  gorge  seldom  bother  to  keep 
their  catches.  This  self-imposed  catch-and- 


26  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


graphics— Reprographics,  Div.  of  GANCOM 


release  practice  is  responsible  for  the  large, 
spirited  population  of  trout  that  inhabit  the 
clear,  cold  water. 

Getting  there 

The  stream  within  the  confines  of  the 
park  is  open  to  public  fishing,  but  finding 
the  parking  area  and  access  to  the  stream 
can  be  a challenge.  To  get  to  Hickory  Run 
State  Park  take  the  White  Haven  exit  (exit 
40)  off  1-80.  From  there,  proceed  west 
through  the  town  on  Rt.  940  until  you 
cross  the  White  Haven  Bridge,  which  spans 
the  Lehigh  River.  Immediately  after  the 
bridge  turn  onto  Rt.  534  and  proceed  nine 
miles  through  the  park  to  a small  fly-fish- 
ing-only  sign  that  appears  just  before  the 
road  passes  under  the  Pennsylvania  Turn- 
pike. Turn  to  the  right,  and  follow  a short 
dirt  road  through  a field  to  the  parking 
area. 

After  rigging  gear  and  clambering  into 
waders  you  have  to  find  the  stream.  There 
are  a few  steep  paths  through  the  thick 
rhododendrons  that  lead  down  the  gorge 
to  the  stream.  When  you  reach  the  water 
you  can  fish  anywhere  on  the  isolated  creek, 
and  unless  you  elect  to  try  your  luck  on 
one  of  the  more  popular  pools,  the  stream 
will  appear  to  be  deserted. 

Fishing  will  be  good  regardless  of 
whether  you  fish  upstream  or  down.  Wad- 
ing is  mandatory  because  the  stream  is 
lined  with  dense  vegetation  or  bordered 
by  the  steep  mountainsides  that  appear  to 
drop  suddenly  into  the  water. 

Wade  upstream  and  you  will  find  pocket 
water  and  deep  pools  linked  by  gentle  rif- 
fles. Downstream  you  will  encounter  shal- 
lower water  holding  brook  and  brown  trout 
in  the  5-inch  to  1 1-inch  range.  Fish  down- 
stream far  enough  and  you  will  reach,  in 
an  extremely  isolated  stretch,  small  wa- 
terfalls cascading  into  deep,  clear  pools. 

Trout  are  plentiful  in  Mud  Run,  but  that 
does  not  mean  they  rise  to  every  fly  pre- 
sented to  them.  They  are  unforgiving  fish 
that  have  seen  a lot  of  line  slapped  on  the 
water.  Anything  less  than  a cautious  ap- 
proach, realistic  imitation,  and  accurate 
presentation  will  be  unproductive. 

When  you  fish  this  stream  plan  to  use 
the  longest  leaders  you  can  effectively 
handle.  Despite  its  name.  Mud  Run  is  usu- 
ally clear,  and  the  trout  are  spooky.  Small 
flies,  size  14  and  down,  are  most  reliable. 

Early  season  flies 

In  the  early  part  of  the  season  when 
mayflies  are  most  abundant.  Little  Blue 
Quills,  Blue  Duns,  Quill  Gordons  and 
Hendricksons  pop  to  the  surface  and  in- 


stigate some  fast  fishing  action.  As  the 
season  progresses  Blue- Winged  Olives, 
Sulphers,  and  Cahills  take  fish.  If  you  are 
a devout  dry  fly  addict,  tiny  Tricos  can  be 
fished  with  good  results  all  year  long. 

During  the  dog  days  of  summer,  ter- 
restrials can  be  effective  on  Mud  Run. 
When  the  stream  seems  to  be  barren  of 
insect  life  terrestrials  hop.  crawl,  and  ac- 
cidently fall  into  the  water.  Black  and  red 
fur-bodied  ants  are  easy  to  tie  and  the  Mud 
Run  trout  love  them.  McMurray-style  ants, 
tied  with  tiny  pieces  of  balsa  wood  on  each 
end,  float  well  and  take  a great  deal  of 
punishment  if  constructed  properly. 

Grasshoppers  take  more  large  summer 
trout  than  any  other  insect.  They  provide 
fish  with  a big  target  and  a good-sized 
meal.  Joe’s  Hopper  is  a colorful  imitation 
and  takes  a lot  of  fish.  The  Letort  Hopper, 
and  its  cousin  the  Letort  Cricket,  have  a 
spun  deer  hair  head  that  makes  the  fly 
extremely  durable  and  accounts  for  its  good 
floating  characteristics. 

Ants  in  sizes  14  to  20,  and  hoppers  in 
sizes  10  to  14  make  up  an  important  part 
of  the  angler’s  arsenal  when  fishing  Mud 
Run  in  the  summer. 

Leafrollers  and  beetles  round  out  the  fly 
box  and  produce  strikes  when  all  else  fails. 
Have  a good  selection  ready  before  you 
take  to  the  stream. 

Caddises  are  plentiful  on  Mud  Run  and 
can  provide  interesting  results  when  mayfly 
imitations  prove  ineffective.  Anglers  would 
be  wise  to  carry  a wide  assortment  in  cream, 
tan  and  brown. 

A Henryville  Special  always  produces 
a rise,  as  does  a Troth  Elk  Hair  pattern  in 
sizes  14  to  20.  Fluttering  Caddises  in  a 
variety  of  colors  can  be  effective,  and  fin- 
icky eaters  often  respond  to  "micro”  cad- 
dises— size  22  and  down — when  the  fish- 
ing becomes  especially  difficult. 

If  you  are  fortunate  you  will  be  on  the 
stream  during  a yellow  stonefly  hatch. 
These  hatches  are  sporadic  at  best,  but 
seem  to  bring  up  all  the  fish  in  the  water. 
A yellow  imitation,  size  12  or  larger,  can 
incite  one  of  the  larger  browns  finning  on 
the  bottom  of  the  deeper  pools  to  explode 
out  of  the  water,  and  I always  carry  a few 
yellow  Sallies  for  just  such  occasions. 

The  size  of  the  trout  in  Mud  Run  vary 
considerably  depending  on  the  type  of  water 
you  are  fishing.  Shallow  riffles  produce 
small,  vibrant-colored  brookies,  while  the 
deeper  pools  hold  the  monster  browns  that 
migrate  upstream  from  the  Lehigh  River 
in  search  of  cooler  temperatures. 

The  brown  trout  in  the  stream  generally 
range  from  12  to  15  inches,  and  there  are 


some  rod-bending,  leader-busting  brown- 
ies lurking  in  the  holes. 

A local  angler  who  is  not  inclined  to 
relate  tall  tales  told  me  of  catching  a small 
brookie,  perhaps  seven  inches  long,  where 
the  swift  water  enters  the  "Turnpike  Pool.  ” 
He  saw  the  fish  leap  from  the  water  to 
grab  his  colorful  Royal  Wulff,  and  was 
bringing  it  to  the  net  when  the  line  un- 
expectedly stopped. 

Thinking  the  fish  had  snagged  on  a sub- 
merged limb,  the  surprised  angler  tugged 
gently  a few  times  and  the  line  became 
slack.  When  he  got  the  fish  to  him  it  was 
badly  shaken.  There  were  teeth  marks  on 
the  trout  that  suggested  it  had  been  at- 
tacked by  a larger  predator.  It  was  never 
determined  if  a huge  trout  hit  the  brookie. 
Regardless  of  what  smashed  the  small  fish, 
the  story  leads  to  endless  speculation  re- 
garding the  size  of  the  unseen,  tippet- 
breaking fish  of  Mud  Run. 

The  fantastic  fishing  and  scenery  that 
Mud  Run  provides  is  largely  due  to  its 
isolation  and  location.  The  land  is  open 
to  the  public  and  patrolled  regularly  by 
park  rangers.  It  is  a wild,  inhospitable 
area  that  appeals  more  to  deer  and  bear 
than  man. 

The  trek  to  the  bottom  of  the  gorge  is 
strenuous,  and  not  advisable  for  anyone 
in  ill  health.  The  paths  that  lead  to  the 
water  are  lined  with  thick,  intertwined  rho- 
dodendron, and  attempting  to  find  a short- 
cut by  barreling  straight  down  the  moun- 
tain can  get  you  hopelessly  disoriented  in 
a maze  of  brush  that  towers  overhead. 

But  there  is  magic  in  Mud  Run  for  those 
willing  to  accept  its  challenges,  and  that 
magic  may  assume  many  forms.  It  may 
be  the  sun  bursting  through  the  morning 
haze,  or  the  sound  of  a grouse  drumming 
in  the  deep  forest.  It  may  be  a turkey 
clucking  in  a distant  roost,  or  the  sight  of 
a raptor  soaring  over  the  gorge.  Or.  it  may 
be — as  it  is  for  many  anglers — the  live 
weight  of  a heavy  fish  on  the  end  of  a 
light  tippet,  and  the  spectacle  of  that  fish 
showering  a quiet  pool  with  sun-drenched 
droplets  of  water  as  it  explodes  from  the 
stream,  shaking  its  mighty  head  in  pro- 
test against  the  unknown  thing  tugging  at 
its  jaw. 

The  magic  is  there  for  everyone  to  sa- 
vor. Load  up  the  car.  camp  in  the  state 
park  for  a weekend,  and  take  advantage 
of  the  wonderful  fishing  opportunity  that 


For  technical  assistance  with  the  manu- 
script, special  thanks  goes  to  Area  Fish- 
eries Manager  Craig  Billingsley . 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Notes 

FROM  THE 

Streams 

A special  thank-you 

As  district  waterways  conservation  of- 
ficer for  northern  Allegheny  County,  1 
would  like  to  thank  the  Allison  Park 
Sportsmans  Club  for  the  donation  of  two 
hand-held  portable  radios  valued  at  over 
$1,400. 

The  Allison  Park  Club  has  been  instru- 
mental in  restoring  Pine  Creek  to  the  status 
of  stocked  trout  waters.  They  have  helped 
improve  habitat  on  this  urban  stream  to 
the  point  where  trout  can  be  caught  at  any 
time  of  the  year,  and  they  have  stubbornly 
fought  to  protect  the  stream  from  thought- 
less acts  of  pollution  and  encroachment. 
Now  they  have  once  again  come  through 
to  protect  this  and  other  streams  in  the 
county  from  the  poachers  who  would  steal 
from  the  honest  sportsmen,  and  to  protect 
the  officers  who  are  patrolling  these  streams 
often  on  foot  and  late  at  night.  A very 
special  thank  you  goes  to  the  Allison  Park 
Sportsmans  Club  from  WCO  Mike  Wheale, 
and  DWCOs  G.  Clement,  R.  Connelly, 
J.  T.  Hart,  J.  H.  Hart.  D.  Muller,  M. 
Nakles,  J.  Ow,  and  D.  Shriver. — Mike 
Wheale,  WCO,  northern  Allegheny  Counts' 

Cardinal  vs.  channel  catfish 

On  Memorial  Day  weekend,  John 
Soldo,  a former  Fisheries  Management 
Division  employee,  and  I decided  to  in- 
troduce Amy  Lauter  ofWyomissing  Hills 
to  the  tine  sport  of  fishing.  Her  introduc- 
tion occurred  on  the  Bucks  County  seg- 
ment of  the  Delaware  River.  Using 
!/j6-ounce  shad  darts  and  4-6-pound-test 
line,  Amy  landed  three  shad  and  a 15-inch 
channel  cattish.  Not  a bad  first  trip! 

The  inquisitive  type,  Amy  asked  me  to 
point  out  the  organs  of  the  catfish  once 
I had  completed  the  filleting.  After  the 
anatomy  lesson  she  asked  me  to  open  the 
bulging  stomach  to  see  what  the  fish  had 
been  eating.  I warned  her  that  I had  once 
found  a piece  of  styrofoam  in  one  catfish 
stomach  and  a rat  in  another.  Unphased 
by  the  rat  story  we  proceeded.  As  I opened 
the  stomach  1 began  to  see  red  feathers. 
Finally,  I had  a recently  fledged  or  an 
adult  male  cardinal  in  my  hand.  First,  I 

28  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


couldn’t  believe  that  a catfish  had  eaten 
a cardinal,  and  second,  I had  a hard  time 
figuring  out  how  the  small  mouth  of  a 
15-inch  catfish  could  handle  the  entire 
bird  intact.  We'll  never  fully  know  the 
events  of  that  fish’s  day,  but  one  thing  is 
certain  . . . this  catfish  died  with  cardinal 
knowledge. — Michael  Kaufmann,  Area 
Fisheries  Manager,  Area  6 

Big  eyes,  small  stomach 

On  a recent  day  of  patrol  at  Crooked 
Creek  Lake,  a young  fisherman  came 
running  up  to  me,  requesting  that  I iden- 
tify a fish  that  was  in  the  lake.  As  I 
approached  the  water  I heard  something 
splashing  on  the  water’s  surface.  I got 
closer  and  saw  the  “fish”  that  the  angler 
was  so  excited  about.  It  was  a large- 
mouth  bass  of  about  10  inches  trying  to 
swallow  a yellow  perch  of  about  eight 
inches.  We  watched  the  life-and-death 
struggle  until  the  perch  finally  broke  free. 
This  was  the  classic  example  of  one’s 
eyes  being  bigger  than  one’s  stomach.— 
WCO  Emil  ,/.  Svetahor,  Armstrong 
County 

Grateful  for  support 

I am  just  beginning  to  get  my  feet  wet 
with  the  Adopt-a-Stream  program,  so  1 
am  very  pleased  to  be  getting  the  support 
of  many  Commission  people.  I would 
like  to  mention  just  a few  of  the  WCOs 
who  I have  most  recently  worked  with. 

Brian  Burger  (York  County)  assisted 
with  a new  project  on  Tom’s  Run  and 
took  a bee  sting  to  the  nose  while  con- 
structing a habitat  improvement  device 
on  Furnace  Run.  (He’s  line  and  buzzing 
around  as  usual.) 

Gary  Slutter  (Schuylkill  County)  has 
been  providing  input  to  two  large  projects 
on  the  Little  Schuylkill  River  and  the 
Upper  Little  Swatara  Creek. 

Ray  Hoover  (Tioga  County)  was  seen 
throwing  rocks  and  logs  around  while 
helping  to  construct  a habitat  improve- 
ment device  on  Stephenhouse  Run. 

Ammon  Ziegenfus  (Berks  County) 
spent  a morning  with  us  in  a boat  on 
Hopewell  Lake  selecting  areas  for  fish 
habitat  structure. 

Jim  Beatty  (Bedford  County)  spent  a 
day  baking  in  the  hot  sun  discussing  pos- 
sible project  ideas  for  Beaver  Creek. 

Thanks  everyone.  Your  interest  and 
time  are  greatly  appreciated. — Karl  J . 
Lutz,  Adopt-a-Stream  Coordinator 


Mandatory  Education, 
Operator  Licensing 
Favored 

BOAT/U.S.  members  overwhelmingly 
favor  both  mandatory  education  and  op- 
erator licensing  for  recreational  boat  op- 
erators, according  to  a survey  recently 
conducted  by  the  Association.  The  results 
of  the  survey  indicate  that  by  a margin  of 
four  to  one,  or  81  percent,  those  respond- 
ing believe  that  recreational  boat  owners 
should  take  a safe  boating  course  or  at 
least  those  who  already  have  on-the-water 
experience  should  be  required  to  pass  an 
exam  substitute. 

By  a similarly  lopsided  margin  of  three 
to  one,  the  survey  reveals  that  67  percent 
of  those  responding  favor  some  form  of 
operator  licensing  for  boaters.  This  would 
include  taking  a boating  safety  course  or 
completing  an  exam  substitute.  The  major 
difference  between  education  and  licens- 
ing is  that  under  a licensing  system,  the 
state  would  have  the  means  to  take  away 
a person’s  right  to  operate  a boat. 

In  a measure  of  the  depth  of  opinion  on 
these  issues,  the  survey  results  show  that 
by  margins  of  66  percent  to  69  percent, 
those  responding  believe  that  mandatory 
education  and  operator  licensing  should  be 
implemented  without  delay,  rather  than 
phased  in  by  age. 

Furthermore,  a comprehensive  com- 
puter analysis  of  the  survey  results  indi- 
cates that  there  is  remarkable  convergence 
of  opinion  among  those  responding  from 
across  all  sections  of  the  country,  owning 
all  sizes  and  types  of  boats.  Differences 
of  opinion  between  sailors  and  power- 
boaters,  between  those  boating  on  the 
oceans  or  on  the  inland  lakes  and  rivers 
and  between  those  who  own  boats  less 
than  20  feet  or  larger  than  40  feet  are 
minimal  or  statistically  insignificant. 

The  results  of  the  survey  are  based  on 
over  15,000  replies.  It  was  mailed  to  all 
Association  members  in  the  September  is- 
sue of  its  bimonthly  news  journal  BOAT/ 
U.S.  Reports. 

Boat  Owners  Association  of  The  United 
States  is  the  largest  organization  of  boat 
owners  in  the  country.  For  more  infor- 
mation on  the  survey  or  information  on 
membership,  write  BOAT/U.S.,  Public 
Affairs,  880  S.  Pickett  Street,  Alexandria, 
VA  22304. 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Trout  Fishing  1988 

New  waterways  have  been  added  to  the 
1988  preseason  and  inseason  trout  stock- 
ing list,  and  some  waterways  listed  al- 
ready have  been  extended.  Here  is  an 
overview  of  the  changes  to  the  Commis- 
sion 1988  preseason  and  inseason  trout 
stocking  program  with  other  changes  to 
areas  under  special  regulations. 

New  trout  waters 

Conoy  Creek,  Lancaster  County.  A 

new  section  near  Elizabethtown,  this  2.6- 
mile  stretch  from  SR  4019  downstream  to 
the  mouth  has  been  scheduled  for  presea- 
son and  inseason  stocking.  Conoy  Creek 
can  support  trout  throughout  the  summer 
and  it  can  provide  a longer-term  fishery 
than  most  Lancaster  County  streams. 

Cush  Creek,  Indiana  and  Clearfield 
counties.  A 3.2-mile  section  from  the 
confluence  of  Horton  Run  downstream  to 
the  mouth  has  been  added.  Cush  Creek 
will  receive  a preseason  and  one  inseason 
stocking  of  brown  and  rainbow  trout.  A 
wild  brown  trout  population  also  exists 
above  Horton  Run. 

Extensions  of  section  limits 

Codorus  Creek,  York  County.  The 

upper  stocked  section  has  been  extended 
downstream  to  the  delayed-harvest  project 
for  preseason  and  inseason  stocking. 

Little  Conestoga  Creek,  Lancaster 
County.  A 3.6-mile  extension  below  RT 
722  has  been  added  in  1988.  This  new 
stretch  is  within  minutes  of  the  Lancaster 
metropolitan  area.  Brown  and  rainbow  trout 
will  be  stocked  preseason  and  inseason. 

Rock  Run,  Lancaster  County.  Stock- 
ing, which  begins  in  Berks  County,  has 
been  extended  downstream  in  Lancaster 
County  to  the  mouth. 

South  Branch  of  Tionesta  Creek, 
Warren  and  Forest  counties.  The  upper 
stocking  limit  was  extended  from  the  con- 
fluence of  Bogus  Run  upstream  to  Lork 
Run.  The  South  Branch  is  stocked  pre- 
season and  once  inseason. 

New  special-regulation  areas 

Delayed  harvest.  Bear  Creek, 

Schuylkill  County.  A 1 . 7-mile  section  of 
Bear  Creek  has  been  added  to  the  delayed- 
harvest  program.  Two  stockings  have  been 
scheduled.  No  harvest  is  permitted  until 
June  15,  after  which  3 trout  per  day  may 
be  taken.  Anglers  may  legally  fish  this 
project  between  March  1 and  opening  day — 
the  traditional  closed  period  on  stocked 


waters.  Fishing  may  be  done  with  Hies  or 
artificial  lures. 

Other  changes 

Big  Coon  Creek,  Forest  County.  Be- 
fore this  year.  Big  Coon  creek  was  stocked 
inseason  only.  A preseason  stocking  has 
been  added  in  1988.  The  stocked  area  is 
between  Zipp  Run  and  Irish  Run. 

Black  Moshannon  Creek,  Centre 
County.  Acquisition  of  a major  portion 
of  land  by  the  Bureau  of  Forestry  prompted 
an  update  of  the  stocking  classification. 
The  change  increases  the  annual  allocation 
and  amount  of  stream  stocked  inseason. 

East  Branch  of  Perkiomen  Creek, 
Bucks  County.  The  allocation  has  been 
increased  with  a second  inseason  stocking 
in  1988. 

Laurel  Run,  Indiana  County.  The  up- 
per stocking  limit  has  been  reevaluated 
and  inseason  stocking  has  been  added  for 
1988. 

Sandy  Creek,  Venango  County.  A 

12. 1 -mile  section  of  Sandy  Creek  below 
Lake  Wilhem  was  added  in  1985  for  pre- 
season stocking.  One  early  inseason  stock- 
ing (before  May  1)  has  been  scheduled  in 
1988. 

Stewart  Run,  Cambria  County.  The 

classification  and  management  of  a 2.1- 
mile  section  was  recently  reevaluated.  The 
allocation  will  increase  and  two  inseason 
stockings  have  been  scheduled  as  part  of 
the  new  plan. 

Tobyhanna  Lake,  Monroe  County. 

To  increase  angling  opportunity,  Toby- 
hanna Lake  will  be  stocked  preseason  and 
once  early  inseason  for  1988,  instead  of 
preseason  only.  There  will  be  no  increase 
in  allocation,  but  making  two  stockings 
instead  of  one  will  help  spread  out  the 
catch  and  extend  the  fishery. 

Wiconisco  Creek,  Dauphin  County. 
A second  inseason  stocking  has  been  added 
to  this  15.7-mile  section  in  1988. 

Auction  for  Boats 

The  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Gen- 
eral Services  State  Surplus  Property  will 
conduct  the  first  auction  for  boats  with/ 
w ithout  trailers  and  motors  this  spring.  For 
a complete  list  of  inventory  and  other  de- 
tailed information,  write  or  call:  Normal 
J.  Kee,  chief.  State  Surplus  Property,  2221 
Forster  Street,  Room  G-48,  Harrisburg, 
PA  17105.  The  phone  number  is  717-787- 
4083.  All  inquiries  must  be  made  before 
March  11,  1988. 


Jim  Yoder  Dead  at  63 

James  F.  Yoder,  former  editor  of  Penn- 
sylvania Angler  and  fish  warden,  died  on 
January  6 at  the  age  of  63.  Yoder  was 
employed  by  the  Fish  Commission  in  1 959 
for  a year  as  a fish  warden  trainee,  and 
from  1960  to  1968  he  served  as  a fish 
warden.  In  1968  he  became  an  informa- 
tion specialist  in  the  Office  of  Information 
and  Education.  Jim  was  editor  of  the  An- 
gler from  January  1972  to  July  1981 . His 
contributions  to  the  quality  of  Fish  Com- 
mission magazines  will  be  remembered  a 
long  time  by  all  who  read  his  work  and 
by  all  who  contributed  to  the  Angler  while 
he  was  editor. 


Most  people  know  that  boating  is  fun. 
In  fact,  some  14  million  people  across 
the  U.S.  own  boats.  A study  by  the  Na- 
tional Marine  Manufacturers  Association 
(NMMA)  indicated,  however,  that  an- 
other 23  million  American  men  want  to 
have  a boat  and  can  afford  to  own  it.  but 
don't.  Why?  Because  they  think  buying  a 
boat  will  cost  more  than  it  really  does,  and 
they  believe  the  buying  process  is  a hassle. 

For  these  reasons,  NMMA  has  pnxluced 
the  new  Step  by  Step  Guide  to  Affordable 
Boat  Buying.  Readers  gain  information  on 
the  buying,  financing  and  maintaining 
processes  and  are  shown  current  average 
price  ranges  and  monthly  cost  of  ow  ner- 
ship figures  (if  boats  are  financed)  for  nine 
of  today's  most  popular  boating  rigs.  In- 
cluded is  a special  “Boat  Selector  Check- 
list" to  keep  model  and  cost  comparisons 
easy  and  organized  when  shopping. 

Copies  of  the  free  Guide  to  Affordable 
Boat  Buying  are  available  at  boat  shows, 
marine  dealerships  and  by  writing  to 
NMMA  C’mon  Aboard,  401  N.  Michigan 
Avenue  # 1 150,  Chicago  IL  6061 1 . 

March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


THE  PLAZA 

AT  KING  OF  PRUSSIA 


Southeast  Fishing  and 
Boating  Expo 

“Take  a Break  in  ’88 — Go  Fishing  and 
Boating”  is  the  theme  of  a Pennsylvania 


Fish  Commission  Fishing  and  Boating  Expo 
set  for  March  9-13  at  the  King  of  Prussia 
Mall  in  Montgomery  County.  These  ex- 
pos, which  feature  many  exhibits  and  dis- 
plays, have  been  recognized  as  a major 
source  of  fishing  and  boating  information. 
Commission  personnel  will  offer  dem- 
onstrations and  instructions  in  a variety  of 
activities,  including  casting,  fish  filleting 


and  cooking,  tly  tying,  rod  building  and 
boating  safety.  Representatives  from  all 
Commission  bureaus  will  be  on  hand  to 
answer  questions  and  discuss  with  anglers 
and  boaters  and  others  all  aspects  of  fish- 
ing and  boating  and  the  management 
of  our  aquatic  resources.  The  expo  is 
free  and  open  during  regular  mall  shop- 
ping hours. 


Anglers  ifk'—r  ~t~  d 

Notebook 

o o o J 

Trout  fishermen  can  benefit  from  a March  Stone  fly  nymphs  and  caddis  fly  larvae  are 

walk  along  their  favorite  stretches  to  study  stream-bottom  travelers.  Imitations  of  them 

riffles,  currents,  pools,  obstructions  and  other  are  best  fished  along  the  stream  bottom 

structures  that  may  have  changed  since  where  trout  are  accustomed  to  searching 

last  spring.  for  them. 

Suckers  may  be  considered  low  life  in  Tipping  jigs  with  natural  bait — minnows, 

other  months  but  in  March  they’re  kings.  grasshoppers,  leeches  or  worms — provides 

Fishing  the  confluence  of  a river  and  a extra  sight  and  smell  enticement, 

stream  or  anywhere  two  bodies  of  water 

meet  will  help  you  fill  a stringer  with  them.  Many  nightcrawlers  die  by  suffocation  be- 

cause  too  much  water  is  added  to  their  bed- 
jfc'l  ding.  Moisten  commercial  bedding  slowly 

until  it's  damp,  kneading  it  to  allow  the 
- -•  moisture  to  penetrate  the  pulp  before  adding 

ffl  - v-JL-  more  water.  If  you  can  squeeze  water  from 

-"i%"  V- > ; \ V . - it,  it’s  too  wet. 

- ' - --  ^ 1 : ' An  important  preseason  chore  is  making 

certain  the  drag  on  your  reels  functions  prop- 

- ~ erly.  Remember  that  it  typically  takes  about 

«|| twice  the  pull  to  start  a stiff  drag  slipping 
O 7~ than  it  does  to  yield  line  once  the  spool  be- 

: - . - ; ; - ' - A small  bobber  attached  a few  feet  above 

a small,  plastic-tailed  jig  is  an  excellent 
method  for  catching  yellow  perch  this 
month.  Reel  the  bobber  3-4  cranks  at  a 
When  replacing  the  monofilament  on  your  time,  then  stop,  allowing  the  jig  and  the 

reels,  label  the  pound  test  by  punching  out  twister  tail  to  sink.  Perch  often  hit  on 

round  labels  from  adhesive  or  colored  tape.  the  drop. 

Write  the  test  number  on  the  label  with  a 

waterproof  marker.  A thin-diameter  stick  of  4—5  inches  sus- 

pended from  your  sucker  fishing  line  serves 
A business  card  or  gummed  label  with  as  a helpful  signal  to  detect  their  delicate 

your  name,  address  and  phone  number  bites.  Cut  a diagonal  notch  in  the  stick  about 

pasted  inside  the  lid  of  your  tackle  box  may  an  inch  from  the  top  and  then  hang  it  on  the 

hasten  its  return  should  you  leave  it  behind  line  a foot  or  so  below  the  top  guide.  When 

on  a fishing  trip.  the  dangling  stick  moves,  pick  up  the  rod 

and  set  the  hook. 

illustration— George  Lavanish 

/ 

Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E., 
Executive  Director 
Dennis  T Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Acting  Director 
Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine.  Fishing  Licenses 


BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff.  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak.  Division  of 
Research 

Jack  Miller,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Acting  Chief, 
Division  of  Trout  Production 
Shyrl  Hood.  Division  of  Warmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 


BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Acting  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Sendees 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Chief, 
Division  of  Property  Services 


BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 


BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons,  Acting  Director 
Virgil  Chambers.  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 

Cheryl  Kimerline,  Special  Programs 
Coordinator 

Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registrations 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B Ulsh,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


30  March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


New  State  Record 
Sauger 

Thomas  D.  Steiger,  of  Allison  Park, 
PA,  caught  a new  state  record  sauger  on 
December  12,  1987.  Steiger  fooled  the 
fish  by  casting  a plug  in  the  Allegheny 
River.  The  sauger  measured  22  inches  long 
with  a girth  of  12|  inches.  It  weighed  3 
pounds,  15  ounces,  and  beat  the  old  sauger 
record  by  7 ounces.  The  new'  state  record 
sauger  was  nearly  2 inches  longer  than  the 
old  state  record  fish. 


Stephen  B.  Ulsh 
Honored 

Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Fish  Commission  ed- 
ication  specialist,  has  received  the  Out- 
standing Contribution  to  the  Field  of 
Environmental  Education  Award  pre- 
sented by  the  Pennsylvania  Alliance  for 
Environmental  Education.  Ulsh  was 
honored  during  the  Alliance’s  annual 
conference  held  November  13-15  at  Del- 
aware Valley  Middle  School,  Milford,  PA. 
The  award  recognizes  “a  person,  private 
enterprise  or  public  domain  displaying  ex- 
emplary environmental  action,  contribu- 
tions or  stance.” 

During  20  years  of  service  to  the  Fish 
Commission  Ulsh  has  presented  more  than 

Water  Quality 

Water  quality  affects  everyone,  not  just 
fishermen  or  boaters.  The  best  way  to  solve 
the  problem  is  to  start  in  your  home  and 
backyard.  There  are  several  organizations 
that  have  a variety  of  literature  available 
regarding  water  pollution,  water  conser- 
vation, septic  systems,  boat  care  and  de- 
tergents (phosphorus).  For  more  infor- 
mation contact: 

• The  Chesapeake  Bay  Foundation,  412 
North  Second  Street,  Harrisburg,  PA 
17101.  Phone:  717-234-5550. 

• Chesapeake  Bay  Trust,  60  West  Street, 
Suite  200A,  Annapolis,  MD  21401. 
Phone:  301-269-2941. 

• Citizens  Program  for  the  Chesapeake  Bay, 
1205  S.  28th  Street,  Harrisburg,  PA 
17111.  Phone:  717-561-1740. 


1,000  education  programs  to  schools, 
churches,  sportsmen’s  clubs  and  other 
groups.  He  started  and  managed  the  Com- 
mission Center  City  Cane  Pole  Program 
in  1968,  which  allowed  over  150,000  chil- 
dren to  fish.  He  has  written  numerous 
magazine  articles  and  writes  “Kid’s  Page” 
in  Pennsylvania  Angler  and  Boat  Penn- 
sylvania magazines.  Ulsh  has  served  on 
government  councils,  has  conducted  teacher 
workshops,  developed  the  PFC’s  Conser- 
vation Award  Program  and  has  worked 
with  both  the  Envir-Olympics  and  Special 
Olympics  programs.  Every  year  “Mr. 
Steve,”  as  he  is  known  to  children,  takes 
at  least  two  kids  fishing  who  have  never 
fished  before.  He  also  coordinates  the 
Commission’s  PLAY  Program  and  writes 
the  PLAY  Newsletter. 

Paul  Antolosky,  1925-1987 

Waterways  Conservation  Officer  Paul 
Antolosky  died  last  December  at  the  age 
of  62.  He  served  as  a Fish  Commission 
law  enforcement  officer  from  1957  until 
his  retirement  in  1986.  WCO  Antolosky 
started  and  conducted  the  first  basics  of 
fishing  schools  in  Pennsylvania,  which  be- 
came a statewide  program  during  the  1970s. 
In  1980,  he  was  recognized  by  the  U.S. 
Army  Corps  of  Engineers  for  the  safe 
boating  programs  he  conducted  at  Sayers 
Lake.  Antolosky  is  credited  with  that 
waterway’s  record  of  16  years  without  a 
fatality.  He  is  also  credited  with  having 
taught  many  youngsters  how  to  tie  flies  at 
Penn  State  University.  During  his  Com- 
mission career  he  stocked  more  than  2 
million  trout  in  Centre  County  waterways. 


Delaware  Estuary 
Book  Available 

To  Pennsylvania  anglers,  the  Delaware 
Estuary  is  vital  habitat  for  tasty  weakfish. 
bluefish,  flounder  and  more.  Yet,  do  you 
realize  how  much  the  waterway  has  af- 
fected your  life?  The  University  of  Del- 
aware Sea  Grant  College  Program  invites 
you  to  take  a closer  look  at  the  estuary 
through  a new  book  designed  for  non- 
scientists, The  Delaware  Estuary:  Redis- 
covering a Forgotten  Resource. 

In  more  than  140  pages,  enhanced  by 
historical  and  color  photographs,  maps, 
graphs  and  species  identification  guides, 
regional  authors  ranging  from  scientists 
and  resource  managers  to  folklorists  and 
historians  review  the  aquatic  region  ex- 
tending from  Cape  May  and  Cape  Hen- 
lopen  to  Trenton. 

Topics  include  history,  geology,  mi- 
gratory shorebirds,  tidal  marshes,  human 
use,  and  management,  with  one  chapter 
devoted  to  the  estuary’s  fisheries  resource. 
Learn  about  the  biology  of  local  finrtsh 
and  shellfish,  and  find  out  how  an  oily  fish 
called  menhaden  once  supported  a boom- 
ing industry,  how  a woman  netmaker 
practices  her  craft,  and  how  oysters  put 
Bivalve.  NJ  on  the  map. 

The  Delaware  Estuary:  Rediscovering 
a Forgotten  Resource  is  a softbound, 
oversized  publication,  13  inches  high  and 
1 1 inches  wide,  and  will  be  available  this 
spring  at  a cost  of  $20  postpaid. 

To  receive  your  copy,  send  a check  or 
money  order  payable  to  the  University  of 
Delaware  to:  Sea  Grant  Communications, 
196  S.  College  Avenue,  Newark,  DE 
19716. 


March  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


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Cooperation  Brings  Results 


In  the  October  1987  Pennsylvania  Angler,  I expressed  confidence  that 
concerned  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth  would  actively  continue  to  support 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  in  its  efforts  to  provide  quality  lishing  and 
boating  and  to  preserve  the  aquatic  resources  of  this  great  state.  1 also 
expressed  optimism  that  if  people  worked  unselfishly  together,  we  can  reach 
lofty  goals,  and  that  the  future  of  this  state,  and  perhaps  the  existence  of  life 
itself,  depends  on  this  human  cooperation. 

On  December  15,  1987,  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  gained  title  to 
Boiling  Springs  Lake  and  its  immediate  perimeter  including  the  outlet  stream 
that  serves  as  the  upper  portion  of  a one-mile  special-regulation  catch-and- 
release  trout  fishing  area.  This  event  culminated  more  than  20  years  of  effort 
by  the  Fish  Commission  to  gain  public  control  of  this  property.  It  also  serves 
as  an  excellent  example  of  what  can  be  accomplished  when  agencies  and 
private  citizens  cooperate  and  work  together  toward  a common  goal. 

Although  the  total  purchase  price  of  the  property  exceeded  $267,000,  the 
Fish  Commission  was  required  to  provide  only  $51,000  toward  this  purchase. 
Additional  funds  were  contributed  by  the  Appalachian  Trail  Conference,  a 
nonprofit  organization  that  acquires  land  for  public  use  by  the  Appalachian 
Trail,  and  by  a private  donar — Carlisle  industrialist  and  dedicated 
conservationist  Frank  E.  Masland,  Jr.,  who  made  a substantial  private 
contribution.  The  National  Park  Service  also  participated  in  the  effort  by 
acquiring  1 .6  acres  of  land  adjacent  to  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake. 

The  lands  bordering  the  east  side  of  the  lake  will  become  part  of  the 
Appalachian  Trail's  Cumberland  Valley  Ridge  Route,  and  will  permit  trail 
users  to  enjoy  the  lake  and  its  accompanying  springs  as  they  pass  through 
Cumberland  Valley.  The  spring  flow,  which  emerges  within  the  lake  and 
other  adjacent  lands,  has  been  measured  as  the  largest  concentrated  spring 
flow  in  the  Commonwealth. 

An  informal  local  citizens’  group,  known  as  “Citizens  United  for 
Preservation,"  together  with  the  Boiling  Springs  Civic  Association,  have  been 
active  participants  in  securing  this  property  for  preservation  of  the  springs  and 
lake  and  will  remain  active  in  the  future  maintenance  of  the  property.  Public 
ownership  of  the  lake  and  its  scenic  surroundings  will  alleviate  concerns  about 
private  development  and  loss  of  public  use  of  this  unique  natural  resource. 

The  lake  will  remain  available  for  public  fishing  and  boating  and  other 
recreational  pursuits,  and  it  will  always  remain  as  a treasure  for  our  children. 
In  fact,  the  entire  group  of  people  and  organizations  involved  in  this  effort  has 
agreed  that  the  lake  should  be  appropriately  renamed  “The  Children’s  Lake” 
to  signify  the  importance  of  this  natural  resource  to  our  young  people  so  that 
they  and  their  children  can  continue  to  enjoy  the  lake.  Efforts  to  rename  the 
lake  officially  are  currently  in  progress. 

The  Commission  is  proud  of  its  part  in  this  endeavor  and  is  grateful  to  Mr. 
Frank  E.  Masland,  Jr.,  and  the  many  other  concerned  people  who  volunteered 
their  time  and  effort  to  make  this  acquisition  possible. 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Blaek 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomshurg 
Chairman 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 


April  19HH  Vol.  57  No.  4 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  f ishing  . Magazine 


Make  ’em  Look  Alive  by  Mike  Bleech 

Working  crankbaits  so  that  they  look  alive  is  the  winning  ticket  4 

As  the  Worm  Turns  by  Joe  Reynolds 

You’d  be  surprised  just  how  effective  worms  can  be  for  early  season 
trout  fishing  7 

15  Minutes  from  Allentown  by  Dennis  Scholl 
The  Lehigh  Valley  is  blessed  with  some  terrific  trout  fishing 
opportunities  10 

Kids  Page  by  Steve  Ulsh 

The  spotlight’s  on  sssssssssnakes  14 

Shad  Fishing  from  Shore  by  John  A . Punola 

Fool  American  shad  with  your  dart  cast  from  shore  15 

Pennsylvania  Crappie  Fishing  Seminar  by  Dari  Black 

You  can't  miss,  armed  with  this  complete  information  16 

Sunken  Structures  Lift  Pymatuning  Fishing  by  Linda  Steiner 
A fish  habitat  improvement  project  at  this  waterway  should  make 
fishing  better  and  better 20 

Spinners  for  Spring  Action  by  Chris  Dolnack 

Successful  spinner  fishing  for  trout  means  more  than  just  casting  and 
retrieving  22 


Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Photographer — Russ  Gettig 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly 
by  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17109.  1988.  Subscription  rates:  one 

year.  $6;  single  copies  are  $1.50  each.  Second  class  post- 
age is  paid  at  Harrisburg.  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send  ad- 
dress changes  to:  Angler  Circulation.  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673.  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 
For  subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  ad- 
dress. Please  allow  six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all 
other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg.  PA  17105-1673.  Edi- 
torial contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be  accom- 
panied by  a self-addressed,  stamped  envelope.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  re- 
sponsibility for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his 
possession  or  in  transit.  The  authors'  views,  ideas,  and 
advice  expressed  in  this  magazine  do  not  necessarily  re- 
flect the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


The  Dry  Flies  of  Early  Spring  by  Ed  Hon  ey 

Insect  activity  on  which  trout  feed  begins  far  earlier  than  you  might 


realize  26 

The  Suckers  Are  Here  by  David  R.  Thompson 

Brushing  up  on  the  basics  can  help  you  score  28 

The  cover 


This  month's  cover  was  photographed  by  Mark  A.  Nale.  It  shows  Angler 
reader  Frank  Nale  about  to  unhook  and  release  a 21  -inch  brown  trout  that 
he  caught  with  a spinner  in  Centre  County’s  Spring  Creek.  Between  now 
and  opening  day,  wading  through  this  issue  can  help  you  rack  up  a similar 
trout  fishing  score.  For  live  bait  tips,  see  the  article  that  begins  on  page  7. 
Fly  fishermen  will  want  to  scan  the  articles  on  pages  10  and  26.  and 
spinner  anglers  won't  want  to  miss  the  details  beginning  on  page  22.  If 
you  crave  crappie  fishing,  please  turn  to  page  16. 

This  issue’s  baek  cover,  photographed  by  Ken  Hunter,  shows  Brian 
Hunter  with  a brown  trout  he  fooled  on  a Quill  Gordon.  The  action  took 
place  in  Muncy  Creek,  Fycoming  County. 


Make  ’em 

jOC 

I E 

by  Mike  Bleech 

Why  do  gamefish  strike  artificial 
lures?  Mainly  because  they  look 
like  something  to  eat.  And  what 
do  gamefish  eat?  Mainly  smaller  fish, 
crustaceans,  insects,  and  other  living  things. 
Gamefish  are  predators.  To  survive  they 
must  kill  other  living  things.  If  you  want 
gamefish  to  strike  your  lures,  make  those 
lures  appeal'  to  be  alive. 

Anglers  must  know  how  gamefish  foods 
act,  if  these  foods  are  to  be  imitated  with 
artificial  lures.  And  before  this,  anglers 
must  know  what  gamefish  eat.  Do  you 
think  about  these  things  each  time  you  use 
an  artificial  lure?  You  should!  Few  anglers 
do.  though,  and  this  is  one  of  the  impor- 
tant things  that  limits  the  success  of  most 
anglers. 

The  best  way  to  team  how  gamefish 
foods  act  is  to  observe  them.  Take  every 
opportunity  to  watch  the  goings-on  in  the 
water.  Watch  the  school  of  shiners  as  it 
passes  under  your  boat.  Watch  the  sucker 
as  it  roots  along  the  bottom.  Watch  the 
crayfish  crawl  over  rocks  and  take  off 
backward  at  the  first  hint  of  danger.  Watch 
the  fallen  insects  as  they  struggle  on  the 
water’s  surface.  Pay  special  attention  to 
creatures  that  appear  to  be  injured,  and 
watch  for  gamefish  attacking  targets. 

Feeding  spree 

Several  years  ago,  while  fishing  in  the 
Allegheny  River  with  my  fishing  partner 
Bill  Anderson,  there  was  a good  hatch  of 
mayflies.  BUI  and  I were  fishing  for  wall- 
eye, with  no  success.  The  nightcrawlers 
we  worked  slowly  across  the  bottom  at- 
tracted no  attention.  Something  was  feed- 
ing on  the  mayflies,  though,  at  the  surface. 
From  the  size  of  the  dimples,  we  guessed 
the  fish  feeding  on  the  mayflies  were 
minnows. 

Then  we  noticed  a few  larger  swirls.  It 
appeared,  at  first,  that  some  larger  fish 
were  feeding  on  the  mayflies.  Bill  and  I 


4 April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


were  sorry  we  did  not  have  tly  fishing  gear 
with  us. 

Another  thought  occurred  to  me.  Maybe 
those  larger  fish  were  not  feeding  on  the 
mayflies.  They  might  be  feeding  on  the 
minnows  that  were  taking  the  mayflies.  1 
tied  on  a floating  minnow  lure  and  re- 
trieved it  to  appear  like  those  feeding  min- 
nows. I retrieved  it  a few  feet,  then  let  it 
float  to  the  surface  as  if  to  take  a mayfly. 

The  third  time  the  lure  floated  to  the 
surface,  it  disappeared  in  a swirl.  I set  the 
hook.  Minutes  later  a 17-inch  walleye 
flopped  in  our  landing  net.  We  had  enough 
walleye  for  a couple  of  hearty  meals 
before  the  mayflies  were  gone  and  the 
action  ceased. 

A feeding  spree  by  one  species  of  fish 
often  triggers  a feeding  spree  by  another 
larger  species.  In  the  case  of  the  mayflies, 
the  minnows  and  the  walleye,  the  feeding 
activity  of  the  minnows  probably  made 
them  relatively  easy  targets  for  the  wall- 
eye. All  the  walleye  we  caught  that  eve- 
ning hit  floating  minnow  lures  retrieved  in 
a stop-and-go  manner  that  allowed  the  lure 
to  float  to  the  surface  at  each  stop.  We 
got  no  hits  when  we  retrieved  the  lures  in 
a steady  swim.  We  had  to  make  the  lures 
appear  like  the  feeding  minnows  to  entice 
a strike  from  a walleye. 

The  walleye  were  feeding  selectively 
that  evening.  Every  serious  fly  rodder 
knows  about  selectively  feeding  fish.  Out- 
side of  fly  fishing  circles,  though,  anglers 
seldom  view  the  selective  feeding  situa- 
tion in  the  same  way.  Anglers  who  are 
trying  to  catch  walleye,  bass,  pike,  mus- 
kies  or  panfish  might  spend  a lot  of  time 
searching  for  the  right  lure,  yet  they  sel- 
dom relate  this  search  to  matching  the  pre- 
ferred food  of  their  target  species. 

Lure  size 

Lure  size  can  be  an  important  factor. 
The  open  water  gamefish  at  Lake  Erie  feed 
on  huge  schools  of  rainbow  smelt,  gizzard 
shad,  emerald  and  spottail  shiners  and  ale- 
wives.  Salmon  anglers  have  learned  how 
important  it  can  be  to  match  the  size  of 
the  prevailing  baitfish.  The  typical  sea- 
sonal pattern  calls  for  small  lures  early  in 
the  season,  then  increasing  lure  size  as  the 
season  progresses  and  the  baitfish  grow. 
But  this  guideline  is  only  general,  with 
exceptions. 

One  exception  occurred  while  Bill  and 
I trolled  shallow  water  in  May.  We  saw 
plenty  of  baitfish  on  the  sonar,  though  of 
course  we  did  not  know  exactly  how  big 
they  were.  We  also  saw  larger  fish  at- 
tacking baitfish  at  the  surface.  The  situa- 


tion seemed  right  for  a good  day  of  fish- 
ing, but  we  were  drawing  a blank.  We 
varied  lure  colors,  styles  and  sizes  from 
small  to  medium,  but  nothing  worked. 

Then  Bill  noticed  a crippled  baitfish 
swimming  in  circles  at  the  surface.  It  was 
an  alewife  about  six-inches  long. 

“We  haven't  tried  any  lures  that  big, ' ' 
he  said  as  he  scooped  the  fish  into  a long- 
handled  net,  which  is  standard  gear  in 
my  boat. 

As  fast  as  we  could,  we  retrieved  the 
lines  from  the  planer  boards  and  replaced 
the  lures  with  spoons  and  floating  minnow 
lures  6 inches  to  7 inches  long.  Our  first 
hit  came  as  Bill  was  setting  the  second 
line  out  on  the  board.  Because  Bill’s  ob- 
servation corrected  our  lure  size,  we  caught 
a nice  brown  trout,  and  several  steelhead 
and  salmon. 

Matching  baitfish  size  most  often  is  an 
important  factor  where  there  are  large 
schools  of  baitfish.  Other  than  at  Lake 
Erie,  gizzard  shad  are  usually  the  species 
that  must  be  matched.  Watch  for  this  while 
fishing  for  stripers  at  Raystown,  hybrid 
stripers  in  the  Susquehanna,  Mononga- 
hela,  or  Allegheny  rivers,  and  while  fish- 
ing for  other  gamefish  at  these  same  waters. 
Lake  Arthur  is  another  place  where  match- 
ing shad  size  can  be  critical. 

Matching  shape 

Shiners,  both  emeralds  and  spottails, 
are  the  prevalent  baitfish  in  the  Allegheny 
Reservoir.  Here  I learned  how  important 
it  can  be  to  match  the  shape  of  the  pre- 
ferred baitfish. 

Several  years  ago,  I bought  a bag  of 
minnow-shaped  plastic  jig  bodies  from  a 
mail-order  catalog.  They  were  the  first 
wiggle-tail  jig  bodies  I had  tried.  The  wall- 
eye and  smallmouth  bass  in  the  Allegheny 
Reservoir  loved  them!  The  pike  loved  them, 
too,  and  they  ate  plenty.  What  they  did 
not  get,  the  stumps  and  rocks  ate.  Soon  I 
had  to  order  more. 

I hardly  paid  attention  that  the  bodies  I 
had  ordered  before  were  no  longer  avail- 
able. In  their  place  I ordered  stockier,  shad- 
shaped bodies.  I caught  a few  fish  on  these 
new  plastic  bodies,  but  nothing  to  com- 
pare with  the  good  results  I had  enjoyed 
with  the  thinner  bodies.  The  reason  did 
not  occur  to  me  for  a long  time. 

At  first  1 suspected  the  action  of  the 
plastic  bodies.  But  the  new  bodies  were 
excellent.  They  were  soft,  even  in  cold 
water,  and  the  tails  wiggled  even  at  the 
slowest  retrieves.  Then  I thought  about 
color.  But  how  could  that  one  uninterest- 
ing yellow  color  always  be  better  than  the 


four  colors  1 had  in  the  new  body  style? 

Dave  Peterson,  a long-time  friend  who 
lives  near  Chautauqua  Lake,  New  York, 
first  mentioned  the  shape  situation  in  re- 
lation to  my  wiggle-tail  jig  bodies.  He 
pointed  out  that  they  are  shaped  like  shad, 
but  the  prevalent  baitfish  in  my  home  lake, 
the  Allegheny  Reservoir,  is  shiners. 

I took  the  scissors  to  a few  dozen  of 
my  new  plastic  jig  bodies,  trimming  them 
to  shiner  proportions.  As  soon  as  I could. 
1 tried  the  trimmed  jigs.  Sure  enough.  I 
had  a great  day  with  walleye  and  bass. 
Shape  was  the  key! 

The  reflective  flash  of  a lure  can  be  a 
signal  that  tells  gamefish,  “I'm  food!" 
Guanine,  a chemical  compound,  gives 
baitlish  their  distinctive  flash.  Light  passes 
through  pigment  particles  in  the  baitfish. 
then  reflects  from  mirror-like  guanine 
crystals. 

Gamefish  attack  baitfish  by  slashing 
through  a school,  then  going  back  to  grab 
disoriented  individual  baitfish.  The  flash 
of  a baitfish  separated  from  the  school  is 
a signal  for  the  predator  to  attack. 

The  most  difficult  part  of  making  lures 
look  alive  is  giving  them  a lifelike  action. 
Lifelike  action  can  be  so  many  differ- 
ent things. 

Considering  crayfish 

Crayfish  are  important  food  for  small- 
mouth and  largemouth  bass,  plus  several 
other  sport  fish  to  a lesser  extent.  Many 
lures  are  made  to  imitate  them.  Almost 
every  crankbait  comes  in  a “crawfish" 
coloration.  There  are  some  crankbaits 
shaped  like  crayfish.  Jigs  are  also  fre- 
quently used  to  imitate  crayfish. 

The  readily  available  assortment  of 
crayfish  look-alike  lures  gives  anglers  a 
good  headstart  at  mimicing  crayfish.  Yet 
many  anglers  still  miss  the  mark  by  using 
these  lures  at  mid-depths.  When  is  the  last 
time  you  saw  a crayfish  anywhere  other 
than  near  the  bottom? 

Crayfish  live  amongst  the  rocks  and 
rubble  on  the  bottom  of  a lake  or  stream. 
They  spend  most  of  their  time  crawling 
across  the  bottom  on  their  10  walking  legs, 
or  hiding  beneath  rocks  or  other  bottom 
debris.  When  a crayfish  is  startled,  it  es- 
capes by  making  short  bursts  of  speed  to 
its  rear,  using  its  proportionately  large  tail. 
They  are  most  vulnerable  when  suspended 
off  the  bottom  after  a burst  of  speed.  Cray- 
fish are  sometimes  pulled  away  from  the 
bottom  by  wave  action  or  currents,  but  not 
for  long,  and  not  far.  Except  in  unusual 
cases,  crayfish  stay  on  or  very  close  to  the 
bottom. 

April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


Therefore,  lures  meant  to  appear  like 
crayfish  should  be  worked  at  the  bottom. 
The  lure  should  frequently  make  contact 
with  the  bottom.  The  lure  should  crawl 
slowly  across  the  bottom,  or  hop  across 
the  bottom  in  an  erratic  manner. 

Crayfish  are  not  long-distance  runners. 
Stop  the  lure  frequently.  Keep  in  mind  the 
picture  of  a real  crayfish  when  it  is  most 
vulnerable,  and  try  to  make  your  lure  ap- 
pear this  way.  This  pause  is  often  the  trig- 
ger that  sets  off  strikes  by  bass,  or  any- 
thing else  that  is  feeding  on  crayfish. 

Choose  crankbaits  that  dive  all  the  way 
to  the  bottom.  It  might  be  necessary  to 
change  lures  frequently,  or  to  have  two  or 
three  rods  rigged  with  different  crankbaits 
to  cover  a variety  of  depths,  so  your  cray- 
fish-imitating  lures  will  always  be  digging 
in  bottom  . This  is  hard  on  crankbaits.  You 


will  lose  some  to  snags.  But  it  is  the  way 
to  do  the  job.  If  you  are  not  willing  to 
sacrifice  a few  lures  to  the  bottom,  do  not 
mess  with  this  tactic. 

Brown  trout  often  feed  on  crayfish.  A 
65-pound  Allegheny  River  brown  trout  I 
caught  on  a crankbait  a few  springs  back 
had  25  crayfish  in  its  belly!  Use  small 
crankbaits  to  imitate  crayfish  in  larger  trout 
streams  or  big  pools  in  smaller  streams. 
This  tactic  is  especially  productive  at  night, 
or  when  the  water  is  colored. 

Channel  catfish  are  another  popular  sport 
tish  that  eat  a lot  of  crayfish.  1 have  caught 
several  nice  channel  cats  while  using  bot- 
tom-digging crankbaits. 

Fooling  panfish 

Not  many  panfish  anglers  know  how  to 
imitate  natural  panfish  food,  or  even  know 


what  natural  panrtsh  food  is,  other  than 
small  fish.  Minnows  and  other  small  fish 
are  important  food  for  large  panfish.  More 
important,  though,  to  panfish  in  general 
are  insects,  crustaceans,  and  other  small 
animals  that  are  classed  as  zooplankton. 

Most  of  the  tiny  animals  that  panfish 
eat  are  weak  swimmers.  If  unaffected  by 
current,  they  might  spend  all  day  swim- 
ming in  an  area  the  size  of  a basketball. 
Some  of  these  creatures  do  little  more  than 
wiggle.  The  distance  of  a single  cast  and 
retrieve  might  be  a lifetime  of  travel  for 
some  zooplankton. 

Think  back  to  biology  class.  We  learned 
how  some  of  these  small  aquatic  animals 
move  through  the  binocular  microscope. 
Typical  plankton-like  animals  do  not  move 
in  a line  as  if  trying  to  get  from  one  point 
to  another.  Rather,  they  move  aimlessly, 
changing  direction  randomly,  usually  in 
an  erratic  manner. 

For  jigs  to  appear  like  these  panfish 
foods,  they  must  be  fished  much  slower 
than  most  anglers  are  accustomed.  The 
easiest  way  to  present  these  lures  accu- 
rately is  to  suspend  them  beneath  floats. 
The  first  thing  this  accomplishes  is  to  keep 
the  jig  suspended  above  the  bottom.  With- 
out the  float,  even  a tiny  jig  would  sink 
to  the  bottom  during  the  properly  slow 
retrieve.  Secondly,  the  float  is  wiggled  by 
any  surface  disturbance,  which  in  turn 
wiggles  the  jig  in  a lifelike  manner.  When 
using  this  method,  the  reel  is  used  to  change 
position  of  the  lure,  but  not  to  retrieve  the 
lure  as  a presentation. 

It  takes  concentration  to  retrieve  a lure 
slowly.  Concentration  might  be  the  most 
important  ingredient  in  making  lures  look 
alive. 

A good  angler's  mind  is  at  the  end  of 
the  line,  with  the  lure.  You  cannot  pos- 
sibly imitate  a living  thing  with  your  lure 
if  you  do  not  know  what  your  lure  is  doing. 
Practice  making  your  lures  look  alive  while 
you  can  watch  them,  be  that  while  you 
are  fishing  in  your  swimming  pool,  or  in 
your  aquarium.  Know  what  kind  of  rod 
movement  is  required  to  make  the  desired 
lure  movement. 

Gamefish—  predators — strike  lures  that 
appear  to  be  living  animals.  You  can  make 
your  lures  look  alive  if  you  know  what 
the  gamefish  are  eating,  and  if  you  know 
how  these  gamefish  foods  act.  Learn  to 
recognize  the  signals  that  make  gamefish 
strike.  There  is  a lot  more  to  successful 
fishing  than  casting  lures  and  reeling  them 
back.  Chunks  of  plastic  or  wood  are  not 
part  of  any  gamefish  diet.  When  you  use 
artificial  lures,  make  ’em  look  alive.  E 


6 April  19  Pennsylvania  Angler 


As  The  Wform  Turns 


by  Joe  Reynolds 
photos  by  the  author 


A kind  of  elitism  has  developed  among 
fishermen,  especially  those  who  go  after 
trout.  It  takes  on  various  forms,  from  the 
gents  who  refuse  to  fish  anything  but  dry 
flies  to  those  who  use  only  artificials. 

I have  no  quarrels  with  specialization, 
but  let’s  hope  that  somewhere  along  the 
way  we  don't  lose  sight  of  what  fishing 


is  all  about — catching  fish.  There  are  times 
when  a fisherman  is  more  likely  to  be  hit 
by  lightning  than  catching  a trout  on  an 
artificial.  Sure,  1 know  a trout  is  more 
valuable  in  the  water  than  in  the  creel,  and 
that  a fish  hooked  on  bait  is  not  likely  to 
survive,  even  if  released. 

However,  some  streams  are  stocked  for 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  7 


the  sole  purpose  of  providing  a put-and- 
take  fishery.  No  fisherman  need  apologize 
for  using  the  "take”  in  this  management 
scheme,  nor  need  any  fisherman  apologize 
for  using  worms,  especially  when  condi- 
tions are  not  appropriate  for  artificials. 

1 relearned  that  lesson  some  years  ago. 
It  began  with  a phone  call  the  night  before 
opening  day.  "What  time  you  want  me 
to  pick  you  up  tomorrow?”  my  father  asked 
when  I answered. 

"Don't  tell  me  you’re  still  going  fish- 
ing," I replied.  "With  all  the  rain  we’ve 
had  the  last  three  days,  the  streams  will 
be  so  muddy  it  wouldn't  take  a miracle  to 
walk  on  water.” 

“I  haven’t  missed  an  opening  day  in 
more  than  20  years  and  I don't  plan  to 
miss  this  one,”  he  shot  back. 

"But  dad,  you'll  never  catch  a trout  in 
those  streams.  If  you  just  want  to  get  to- 
gether with  your  buddies,  that’s  tine,  but 
don’t  plan  any  fish  fries.” 

"Bet  I can  catch  a limit  before  noon.” 

"OK.  OK.  I’ll  see  you  in  the 
morning.” 

Next  morning,  as  we  unloaded  our  gear 
from  the  trank  of  dad’s  car.  he  advised 
me  to  forget  the  flies  and  rig  up  to  fish 
with  worms.  I snobbishly  declared,  "If  I 
can’t  catch  trout  with  a fly,  I don’t  want 
to  catch  any.”  Dad  just  shrugged,  prob- 
ably wondering  how  he  had  managed  to 
raise  such  an  idiot  son. 

The  usual  opening  day  crowd  was  on 
hand,  but  the  chocolate  color  of  the  high- 
running  stream  had  already  discouraged 
many  of  them.  They  stood  around  in  small 
groups,  complaining  about  the  fishing 
conditions,  or  reliving  past  openers. 

Dad  exchanged  brief  greetings  with 
several  buddies  and  began  rigging  his  rod. 
One  guy  made  smart  remarks  about  being 
in  a hurry  for  nothing.  I tended  to  agree, 
but  this  was  opening  day. 

I was  taking  my  time  going  through  a 
selection  of  flies,  knowing  that  it  wouldn’t 
make  much  difference  what  pattern  I se- 
lected. Water  visibility  was  at  the  zero 
level. 

My  selection  process  was  interrupted 
when  I heard  my  father  say,  “There’s  one.” 

I looked  up  and  could  hardly  believe 
my  eyes  as  1 watched  him  ease  an  1 1 -inch 
rainbow  into  his  landing  net.  Accident,  I 
thought.  It  had  to  be  an  accident. 

Certain  that  I had  just  seen  one  of  the 
few  trout  that  would  be  caught  that  day, 

I began  entertaining  myself  with  a little 
casting  practice,  throwing  a fly  to  some 
of  the  more  difficult  pockets  across  the 
stream.  1 had  just  made  a roll  cast  that  put 


8 April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


my  fly  under  an  overhanging  limb  as  well 
as  I could  have  placed  it  by  hand,  when 
dad  said,  “There's  two.” 

Now  he  had  my  attention.  Maybe  light- 
ning does  strike  twice  in  the  same  place, 
but  if  it  were  going  to  strike  three  or  more 
times  I was  going  to  be  ready.  Stubborn- 
ness is  one  thing,  stupidity  is  another. 

I stashed  my  fly  rod  and  picked  up  my 
father's  extra  ultralight  spinning  outfit.  It 
had  a size  8 hook  on  the  end  of  the  line 
with  a splitshot  about  12  inches  ahead  of 
the  hook.  I baited  the  rig,  as  he  instructed, 
with  six  or  seven  garden  worms  from  the 
big  coffee  can,  and  held  up  the  wiggling 
mess  for  inspection.  I hoped  it  was  more 
appetizing  to  the  trout  than  it  seemed 
to  me. 

Twenty  minutes  later  I was  still  fishless 
and  about  to  rebait  for  the  fourth  time. 
Too  many  years  of  throwing  flies  had 
dimmed  my  memory  of  the  proper  tech- 
nique for  drifting  a worm.  My  bait  kept 
disappearing  but  nary  a strike  was  felt. 
Just  throwing  a worm  into  a trout  stream 
doesn't  guarantee  success. 

“Try  lifting  your  rod  tip  just  a few  inches 
every  few  seconds  as  the  bait  drifts  back 
along  the  bottom,”  my  father  advised. 
“That'll  keep  the  slack  out  of  the  line  and 


Worms  can  be  fished  with  a fly  rod  or  a 
spinning  outfit,  but  either  way  you  need 
a splitshot  or  two  to  keep  the  bait  near 
the  bottom. 


increase  your  chances  of  feeling  a strike." 

His  advice  brought  back  memories  of 
childhood  skills  learned  on  this  same 
stream.  Minutes  later  I hooked  a nice  brown 
in  stream  conditions  I had  recently  con- 
sidered unfishable. 

My  father  took  his  limit  before  noon, 
but  the  three  rainbows  in  my  creel  were 
three  more  than  I figured  both  of  us  would 
have  taken  that  day. 

Worms  can  be  fished  with  a fly  rod  or 
spinning  outfit,  but  either  way  you  need 
to  add  a splitshot  or  two  to  keep  the  bait 
near  bottom.  In  lakes  and  ponds  stocked 
trout  generally  congregate  in  the  deeper 
water.  A bait  left  to  sit  on  the  bottom  may 
take  fish,  but  a very  slow  retrieve  is  more 
likely  to  draw  strikes  if  the  fish  are  not 
actively  feeding.  This  is  especially  true  on 
opening  day  afternoon  when  the  trout  tend 
to  be  spooked. 

In  streams  the  worms  should  be  lobbed 
upstream  and  allowed  to  tumble  back  w ith 


the  current.  Take  up  slack  line  as  it  de- 
velops or  you  won't  feel  a strike.  Quick 
detection  of  a strike  results  in  more  hcxik- 
ups  and  less  stripped  hooks,  and  it  reduces 
the  likelihood  of  hooking  a trout  deep  in 
the  throat.  This  can  be  bothersome,  even 
if  you  plan  to  kill  the  fish.  In  a somewhat 
reverse  comparison,  fish  the  real  worms 
for  trout  much  like  a plastic  worm  should 
be  fished  for  bass. 

When  you  think  about  it.  worms  are  a 
very  natural  bait  during  periods  of  high 
runoff  in  the  spring.  Besides  mud,  the  water 
carries  many  worms  into  the  streams. 
Worms  are  also  one  of  the  oldest  tricks  in 
the  book — check  The  Compleat  Angler. 
Even  the  revered  Izaak  Walton  had  a few 
kind  words  to  say  about  worms. 

One  of  the  best  things  about  worms  is 
that  they  are  free  for  the  taking,  just  about 
anywhere  rich  soil  is  found.  Spading  enough 
for  a day  of  fishing  from  the  family  garden 
spot  is  usually  no  problem. 

There  are  times  when  one  of  our  typical 
Pennsylvania  spring  cold  fronts  can  make 
it  difficult  to  find  worms.  If  you  have  a 
compost  or  manure  pile,  or  have  a friend 
who  does,  finding  worms  is  never  a prob- 
lem. Even  in  the  dead  of  w inter,  heat  gen- 
erated from  the  decomposing  material 
makes  its  easy  to  find  worms  near  the 
surface. 

You  don't  even  need  a shovel  to  obtain 
worms.  The  only  equipment  needed  to  catch 
nightcrawlers  is  a flashlight,  a can.  and  a 
quick  hand.  Nightcrawlers.  appropriate  to 
their  name,  come  out  of  the  ground  at 
night,  particularly  after  a rain  or  when 
there  is  a heavy  dew.  Locate  them  with 
the  flashlight,  and  then  slowly  ease  your 
hand  down  to  within  about  six  inches  of 
the  nightcrawler  before  making  a quick 
grab.  As  soon  as  the  nightcrawler  detects 
your  presence,  it  will  try  to  slip  back  into 
the  hole  at  a speed  that  is  hard  to  believe. 
If  you  manage  to  grab  the  critter  w hen  it 
is  halfway  or  more  into  the  hole,  don't 
yank  on  it  or  it  will  break  in  two.  A steady 
but  light  pressure  will  usually  result  in 
retrieving  the  entire  worm. 

Worms  are  a time-tested  bait  and  read- 
ily available.  They  work  in  stream  con- 
ditions when  other  methods  are  much  less 
effective,  and  even  better  when  fishing 
conditions  are  decent  in  the  spring.  Every 
so  often  it  pays  to  get  back  to  the  basics, 
especially  under  conditions  not  suited  to 
more  “high  fal lutin'  techniques.  Worms 
may  not  get  much  respect  these  days,  but 
like  gold  during  a depression,  they  are  the 
only  thing  to  have  when  all  else  fails. 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Minutes  from  Allentown 


by  Dennis  Scholl 

The  Lehigh  Valley  is  blessed  with  a va- 
riety of  natural  resources,  not  the  least 
important  of  which  is  limestone,  a mineral 
that  has  helped  the  area  become  one  of 


the  richest  farming  centers  in  Pennsyl- 
vania as  well  as  a leading  producer  of 
cement. 

Farming  and  industry  aren't  the  bene- 
ficiaries of  the  valley’s  limestone  soil, 
however.  Fishermen  who  frequent  the 
area’s  streams  also  reap  rewards.  With  the 
limestone  acting  as  a buffer  to  acid  pre- 
cipitation. pH  levels  in  most  of  the  val- 
ley’s creeks  are  able  to  remain  between  7 
and  8 year-round,  which  is  perfect  for 


aquatic  and  fish  life.  And  because  lime- 
stone is  easily  eroded  by  underground 
water,  the  area  contains  a wealth  of  cold- 
water  springs  that  feed  the  streams  and 
keep  water  temperatures  at  levels  that  are 
optimum  for  the  growth  of  trout. 

But  the  Lehigh  Valley’s  potential  as  a 
great  trout  fishery  isn't  something  anglers 
have  begun  to  realize  in  just  the  past  25 
or  50  years.  Indeed,  during  the  1800s  and 
even  back  into  Colonial  times,  the  valley’s 


10  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


principal  city,  Allentown,  was  a haven  for 
Philadelphia  anglers  who  sought  the  peace 
and  serenity  of  pristine  "backwoods”  trout 
waters. 

Trout  Hall,  located  at  Fourth  and  Wal- 
nut streets  in  Allentown,  was  a head- 
quarters for  anglers  who  would  meet  and 
map  out  plans  for  a day  of  fishing,  usually 
over  a tankard  of  ale  and  a meal  of  fresh 
game  or  fish. 

Trout  fishing  was  excellent,  and  even 
though  the  only  available  species  was  the 
brook  trout,  it  abounded  in  numbers  that 
were  great  enough  to  keep  anglers  coming 
back  to  the  area  year  after  year.  Good 
fishing  was  not  limited  to  Allentown, 
however.  The  Moravian  community  of 
Bethlehem  had  an  excellent  limestone 
stream,  the  Monocacy,  flowing  through 
it,  and  Easton  had  another,  the  Bushkill. 
Even  Hellertown,  a small  community  south 
of  Bethlehem,  had  a top-notch  trout  stream 
in  the  Saucon  Creek.  All  of  these  lime- 
stone waters  contained  abundant  aquatic 
life  including  large  numbers  of  mayflies, 
caddis  flies,  stone  flies,  scud,  and  water 
worms.  The  trout  grew  quickly  and  they 
grew  fat. 

The  native  brook  trout  were  later  joined 
by  brown  and  rainbow  trout  and  they,  too, 
thrived  on  a rich  diet  of  insects,  crusta- 
ceans, worms  and  minnows.  James  E. 
Leisenring,  an  Allentown  native  and  a 
master  of  the  wet  fly,  kept  extensive  doc- 
umentation on  the  type  of  insect  life  found 
in  the  valley  streams.  Leisenring's  1941 
book  The  Art  of  Tying  the  Wet  Fly  and 
Fishing  the  Flymph  contained  wet  fly, 
nymph  and  "flymph”  patterns  he  used  on 
his  beloved  Little  Lehigh  Creek.  Leisen- 
ring died  in  1951 , but  his  patterns  are  still 
used  today  with  great  success. 

Two  centuries  have  passed  since  an- 
glers first  tested  the  valley’s  waters,  and 
conditions  on  some  of  the  streams  have 
changed.  Industrial  pollution  and  siltation 
from  development  have  caused  a decrease 
of  aquatic  life  in  several  creeks,  including 
the  Little  Lehigh.  But  overall,  most  of  the 
streams  still  offer  fine  angling  for  those 
who  are  willing  to  find  it. 

If  a trout  fisherman  were  to  drive  his 
car  for  15  minutes  in  any  direction  outside 
of  center  city  Allentown,  he  would  be  able 
to  fish  some  of  Pennsylvania's  best  trout 
streams.  He  would  also  be  able  to  choose 
from  more  than  a half-dozen  creeks  that 
harbor  native  brown  trout  in  addition  to 
stocked  fish.  With  that  in  mind,  let’s  take 
a look  at  the  best  of  the  Lehigh  Valley’s 
trout  waters,  all  of  which  lie  within  easy 
reach  of  the  "Queen  City.” 


Commission  Area  Fisheries  Manager 
Craig  Billingsley  electrofished  this  trout 
during  a survey  of  Monocacy  Creek  in 
downtown  Bethlehem . 


Little  Lehigh  Creek 

The  Little  Lehigh’s  headwaters  are  to 
the  west  of  Allentown,  but  the  stream  flows 
through  the  city  of  100, OCX)  before  it  emp- 
ties into  the  Lehigh  River  several  hundred 
yards  south  of  the  Samuel  Frank  Memorial 
Dam  at  Hamilton  Street.  The  easiest  way 
to  find  the  Little  Lehigh  is  to  follow  Ham- 
ilton Street  west  to  24th  Street  and  then 
turn  south  to  the  intersection  of  24th  and 
Lehigh  Parkway.  There  the  stream  is  pre- 
served in  a picturesque  park. 

The  Little  Lehigh  has  undergone  a lot 
of  changes  since  the  days  of  Jim  Leisen- 
ring, but  it  still  offers  good  fishing  for  bait, 
spin  and  fly  fishermen.  It  also  receives 
some  of  the  heaviest  stockings  of  any  stream 
in  the  Lehigh  Valley. 

Some  18.6  miles  of  the  creek  receive 
annual  pre-season  and  in-season  stock- 
ings, and  local  sportsmen’s  clubs  add  more 
trout  as  the  summer  goes  on.  But  for  those 
interested  in  native  trout,  the  best  waters 
are  those  downstream  of  the  no-harvest, 
fly-fishing-only  segment  that  stretches  1.5 
miles  from  Fish  Hatchery  Road  (located 
next  to  the  Queen  City  Trout  Hatchery)  to 
just  above  the  24th  Street  (covered)  bridge. 

The  Little  Lehigh  contains  another  fiy- 
fishing-only  section,  a one-mile  segment 
that  begins  at  Laudenslager's  Mill  Dam 
(adjacent  to  Macungie  Road  outside  of 
Emmaus)  and  goes  upstream  to  Route 
T-508.  There  is  no  closed  season  on 
the  stretch,  but  only  three  fish  may  be 
taken  daily  and  none  between  March  1 
and  the  opening  of  the  season. 


The  Little  Lehigh  is  typical  of  valley 
streams,  with  stretches  of  alternating  pools 
and  riffles,  ['here  are  no  extended  stretches 
of  fast  water.  Bait  fishermen  do  well  w ith 
worms  and  minnows  and  fly  fishermen 
enjoy  success  with  mayfly  and  caddis  im- 
itations and  some  stone  flies.  Because  of 
siltation,  the  best  of  the  stream's  fly  hatches 
are  relegated  to  the  stream  east  of  Allen- 
town city  limits.  Fly  fishermen  would  do 
well  to  check  with  local  sporting  goods 
stores  regarding  patterns  because  the  Little 
Lehigh  has  a number  of  different  hatches. 

A sampling  of  patterns  that  can  be  used 
annually  includes  the  Hendrickson.  Quill 
Gordon,  Grey  Quill  and  Cahill  in  April; 
Red  Quill.  Silver  Sedge.  March  Brown, 
Ginger  Quill.  Quill  Gordon  and  Grey  Quill 
in  May;  and  Light  Cahill,  Brown  Sedge, 
Yellow  Sally.  Pale  Evening  Dun,  Pale 
Watery  Dun,  Green  Caddis  and  White 
Miller  in  June.  From  July  through  Sep- 
tember, the  smallest  of  all  mayflies,  the 
Tricos,  take  over. 

Monocacy  Creek 

Something  new  has  been  added  to  an 
already  good  situation  in  Bethlehem.  A 
portion  of  Monocacy  Creek  from  the  dam 
in  Illick’s  Mill  Park  to  the  bridge  crossing 
the  stream  at  Buena  Vista  Drive  (about 
one  mile  south  of  Route  22)  has  been  clas- 
sified as  a trophy  trout  project  by  the  Fish 
Commission. 

In  1987  there  were  only  two  other  such 
project  waters  in  the  entire  Common- 
wealth, so  the  designation  of  the  3/4-mile 
stretch  on  the  Monocacy  can  be  viewed 
as  a testament  to  the  creek's  water  quality 
and  its  ability  to  grow  and  support  large 
fish.  Anglers  are  permitted  to  use  artificial 
lures  only  (flies  and  spinners)  in  the  trophy 
trout  section  and  keep  only  two  trout  a day 
in  excess  of  14  inches. 

The  Monocacy  is  unusual  because  it  is 
one  of  the  few  native  trout  streams  in  the 
country  that  flows  through  a city  of  more 
than  75,000  people.  There  are  many  more 
native  fish  in  the  Monocacy  than  in  the 
Little  Lehigh. 

Trout  are  stocked  in  the  Monocacy  south 
of  Illick's  Mill  Park,  but  everything  above 
the  park  is  natural.  The  situation  has  been 
that  way  since  1983  when  the  Fish  Com- 
mission designated  that  portion  of  the  stream 
as  a wiki  trout  water  under  Operation 
FUTURE.  Trout  have  thrived  there  since. 
The  only  setback  was  a pollution  spill  in 
July  of  1985  that  killed  thousands  of  trout 
and  other  fish. 

The  Monocacy  has  rebounded,  though, 
and  within  another  year  or  two  the  trout 

April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 1 


population  in  the  creek  should  return  to 
pre-1985  levels.  It  is  already  good  now. 

The  creek  receives  annual  pre-season 
and  in-season  stockings  of  brown  and  rain- 
bow trout  from  the  Fish  Commission, 
downstream  of  Illick’s  Mill  Park,  but  a 
native  population  of  brown  trout  exists  there 
as  well. 

Although  the  stocked  fish  are  usually 
caught  by  anglers  within  a few  weeks  after 
their  placement,  the  native  fish  can  be  taken 
throughout  the  year,  but  not  easily.  Dry 
fly  fishermen  have  some  excellent  oppor- 
tunities to  catch  their  quarry  from  April 
through  October.  The  stream  has  a fair 
hatch  of  small  Blue  Quills  that  coincides 
with  the  start  of  the  trout  season.  A better 
Sulphur  hatch  takes  place  for  three  or  four 
weeks  beginning  around  May  15,  some 
Pale  Evening  Duns  appear  in  June,  and 
an  excellent  Trico  hatch  occurs  from  about 
July  1 through  mid-October.  Caddis  (lies 
hatch  from  April  through  the  beginning  of 
fall  and  scud  and  sow  bugs  are  in  the  creek 
year-round.  Streamer  fishermen  also  are 
in  luck  because  the  Monocacy  has  good 
dace  and  sculpin  populations. 

1 2 April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


If  you’re  a bait  or  lure  fisherman,  red 
worms  and  nightcrawlers  are  good  in  April 
and  May  and  after  summer  rains.  Anglers 
who  like  spinners  would  do  well  to  try 
flicker  spinners,  a Mepps  festooned  with 
a rooster  tail,  or  the  ever-popular  CP  Swing. 
Stick  to  small  and  medium  sizes.  One  other 
lure  that  spin  fishermen  should  not  over- 
look is  a balsa  wood  minnow  imitation 
like  the  Rapala.  Three-inch  floating  models 
often  bring  good  results. 

The  best  fishing  in  Monocacy  Creek 
begins  south  of  the  Route  191  interchange 
with  Route  22,  where  a number  of  springs 
augment  the  stream  with  cold  water.  But 
a fisherman  seeking  the  Monocacy  from 
Allentown  will  first  run  into  it  at  the  Route 
512  interchange  with  Route  22.  Go  south 
from  there.  Any  left-hand  turn  off  Route 
512  will  take  you  to  the  creek. 


Most  of  the  stream  south  of  Illick’s  Mill 
Park  runs  through  public  land.  Above  the 
park  are  sections  that  are  privately  held. 
Permission  must  be  obtained  to  fish  them. 
Anglers  are  advised  not  to  overlook  the 
section  of  the  stream  in  downtown  Beth- 
lehem. Fish  Commission  electro-fishing 
conducted  there  has  revealed  excellent  na- 
tive brown  trout  populations. 

Of  all  the  streams  in  the  Lehigh  Valley, 
the  Monocacy  may  be  the  best. 

Bushkill  Creek 

You  may  be  hard-pressed  to  arrive  at 
the  Bushkill  from  Allentown  in  15  min- 
utes. but  the  extra  driving  time  is  worth 
it.  The  Bushkill  is  another  valley  stream 
that’s  highlighted  by  beautiful  pools  and 
riffles.  And  just  like  the  Monocacy,  one 
of  the  best  portions  of  the  creek  lies  within 
the  boundaries  of  a large  city,  in  this  case, 
Easton. 

Similar  to  the  Monocacy,  a portion  of 
the  Bushkill  below  the  Binney  and  Smith 
crayon  company  in  Easton  received  spe- 
cial designation  from  the  Fish  Commis- 
sion last  year  as  a catch-and-release  area. 


graphics — Rose  Boegli 


The  special  segment  begins  at  the  dam  at 
Binney  and  Smith  (just  off  Bushkill  Drive) 
and  continues  downstream  for  1 . 1 miles 
to  the  13th  Street  bridge.  An  unusually 
good  native  brown  trout  population  exists 
in  that  stretch  with  large  fish  caught  every 
year.  Anglers  are  permitted  to  use  artificial 
lures  only  but  no  fish  may  be  kept. 

The  Bushkill  originates  north  of  Easton 
in  the  Blue  Mountains  and  flows  south 
through  farmlands  and  forests,  including 
a beautiful  parcel  of  land  at  Jacobsburg 
State  Park,  north  of  Nazareth. 

The  Bushkill  is  basically  a freestone 
stream  until  it  reaches  Stockertown,  where 
limestone  springs  raise  the  pH  level  of  the 
water  and  the  trout  population  begins  to 
increase.  The  Fish  Commission  stocks  the 
creek  for  8.4  miles  from  the  village  of 
Capella  to  Jacobsburg  park,  where  fishing 
pressure  is  heavy  on  opening  day.  A 1.7- 
mile  stretch  above  the  dam  at  Binney  and 
Smith  also  is  stocked,  as  well  as  a 2.9- 
mile  segment  from  the  13th  street  bridge 
in  Easton  to  the  stream’s  confluence  with 
the  Delaware  River. 

Fishing  is  good  year-round,  with  basi- 
cally the  same  fly  hatches  that  occur  on 
the  Monocacy.  The  Bushkill  does  not  have 
the  same  amount  of  scuds  and  sow  bugs 
the  Monocacy  holds,  however,  and  its  Trico 
hatch  is  not  as  extensive,  either. 

Saucon  Creek 

Before  the  early  1950s  when  a large 
zinc  mine  opened  near  the  stream's  head- 
waters in  Upper  Saucon  Township,  Le- 
high County,  the  Saucon  Creek  was  a great 
trout  stream  with  abundant  insect  life.  Once 
mining  operations  got  under  way,  how- 
ever, the  Saucon  became  little  more  than 
a source  of  waste  for  mining  by-products 
that  polluted  the  creek’s  water  and  killed 
off  nearly  all  its  insect  life.  It  was  virtually 
impossible  for  trout  to  survive  in  the  Sau- 
con through  the  winter. 

Fortunately,  mining  operations  ceased 
several  years  ago  and  the  Saucon  is  mak- 
ing a valiant  effort  to  come  back  as  a first- 
class  trout  stream.  Its  waters  are  crystal- 
clear  and  more  and  more  insects  are 
returning.  Fish  Commission  surveys 
have  shown  that  natural  reproduction  is 
occurring  once  again. 

The  Saucon  becomes  a good  trout  stream 
south  of  the  village  of  Bingen.  An  abun- 
dance of  spnngs  enter  the  well-shaded  creek 
at  the  north  end  of  Hellertown  and  sig- 
nificantly affect  the  water  quality.  Addi- 
tional springs  enter  the  Saucon  as  it  winds 
through  the  borough  and  into  Bethlehem 
city  limits. 


The  Saucon ’s  best  days  are  still  ahead, 
but  there  is  good  fishing  for  the  angler 
who  doesn’t  mind  walking  to  sections  of 
the  creek  beyond  the  so-called  “beaten 
path."  Stockings  of  fingerling  brown  trout 
by  the  Hellertown  Sportsmen's  Associa- 
tion have  produced  good  results.  There  are 
many  fish  that  will  rise  to  a fly  throughout 
the  creek. 

Pre-season  and  in-season  stockings  of 
brown  and  rainbow  trout  by  the  Fish  Com- 
mission provide  fishermen  with  plenty  to 
catch  from  the  beginning  of  the  season 
through  the  end  of  May.  There  are  fair 
numbers  of  fish  in  the  summer,  but  they 
are  not  easy  to  fool. 

If  you're  a bait  fisherman, 
red  worms  and 
nightcrawlers  are  good  in 
April  and  May  and  after 
summer  rains. 

Anglers  who  plan  to  visit  the  Saucon 
should  consider  using  red  worms  and  spin- 
ners early  in  the  season,  and  terrestrial 
imitations  or  live  grasshoppers  and  crick- 
ets later  on.  There  are  only  a few  Sulphurs 
hatching  in  mid-May  and  just  a fair  amount 
of  Tricos  from  early  July  through  the  be- 
ginning of  October.  But  the  number  of 
insects  will  continue  to  increase  each  year. 

The  Saucon  can  be  reached  from  Al- 
lentown by  taking  Susquehanna  Street  east 
into  Salisbury  Township.  Then  pick  up 
Seidersville  Road,  which  leads  into  Hel- 
lertown. You  will  cross  the  creek  at  Water 
Street,  where  parking  is  available.  Good 
sections  of  water  can  be  found  upstream 
or  downstream. 

Other  good  picks 

A number  of  other  good  trout  waters 
are  within  a 15-minute  drive  of  Allen- 
town. Three,  in  fact — Jordan  Creek,  Ce- 
dar Run  and  Trout  Creek — are  within  city 
limits. 

The  Jordan  is  one  of  the  most  heavily 
fished  of  all  valley  streams  on  opening 
day.  The  Fish  Commission  stocks  brown 
and  rainbow  trout  there.  Angling  pressure 
is  typically  heavy.  About  15.3  miles  of 
the  Jordan  are  stocked,  and  by  the  time 
in-season  stockings  end,  additional  trout 
have  been  placed  in  the  creek.  The  Jordan 
does  not  have  the  amount  of  native  fish 
as  do  the  Little  Lehigh  and  Monocacy, 


because  its  waters  are  fed  less  by  springs. 

The  easiest  way  to  reach  the  creek  is  to 
take  the  MacArthur  Road  exit  south  from 
Route  22.  The  Jordan  is  located  approx- 
imately 2-mile  down  MacArthur  Road  (also 
known  as  7th  Street)  behind  the  George 
Washington  Lodge. 

Trout  Creek  is  strictly  no-harvest  fish- 
ing. It  is  not  stocked  but  does  contain  a 
healthy  population  of  native  brown  trout. 
It  flows  northeast  from  Dixon  Street  (near 
Mack  Boulevard)  to  its  confluence  with 
the  Little  Lehigh  near  the  4th  Street  bridge. 

Cedar  Creek  is  split  into  two  distinctive 
portions:  a Class  A wild  trout  section  that 
extends  from  Ott  Street  in  Allentown  up- 
stream to  the  creek’s  origin  near  Schantz 
Spring,  and  a 1.2-mile  stocked  segment 
that  runs  from  Ott  Street  downstream  to 
the  Cedar's  confluence  with  the  Little 
Lehigh. 

The  Class  A section  of  the  stream  is 
closed  to  fishing  in  the  fall  because  of  its 
reproductive  potential. 

The  Cedar  is  a small  stream  but  harbors 
quite  a few  trout.  Its  insect  life  is  excellent, 
particularly  in  the  Class  A portion. 

Two  other  streams  worth  mentioning 
within  a few  minutes’  drive  of  Allentown 
are  Coplay  Creek  and  Swabia  Creek. 

Coplay  Creek  is  much  like  Cedar  Run. 
with  half  the  creek  wild  trout  water  and 
the  other  half  stocked.  It  is  best  reached 
by  traveling  north  on  Cedar  Crest  Bou- 
levard from  Route  22.  Exit  Cedar  Crest 
Boulevard  at  Quarry  Road  (east)  and  fol- 
low it  to  Lehigh  Street.  It  crosses  the  Co- 
play at  the  point  where  Fish  Commission 
stockings  begin. 

Some  5.6  miles  of  stream  receive  trout 
before  and  during  the  season.  Upstream 
of  Lehigh  Street,  the  Coplay  is  basically 
a native  brown  trout  water. 

Swabia  Creek  has  some  native  fish,  but 
it  is  supported  for  the  most  part  by  Fish 
Commission  stockings.  Brook,  brown  and 
rainbow  trout  are  placed  there  during  and 
before  the  season.  Swabia  Creek  flows 
through  Macungie  just  before  entering  the 
Little  Lehigh  east  of  Sauerkraut  Lane.  Take 
Route  100  from  Route  22  into  Macungie 
and  you'll  find  the  creek.  It  is  just  one  of 
many  fine  streams  that  owe  their  origins 
to  the  porous  limestone  soils  of  the  Lehieh 
Valley. 


Dennis  Scholl  is  an  outdoor  writer  for  The 
Globe-Times  (Bethlehem).  For  technical 
assistance  with  this  manuscript,  he  thanks 
Fish  Commission  Area  Fisheries  Manager 
Craig  Billingsley. 

April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


Snake  Facts  and  Fiction 


Fiction  . . . Snakes  hypnotize  wildlife  and  people 
before  striking. 

Fact A snake  may  fascinate  wildlife  and  peo- 

ple, but  it  does  not  hypnotize. 

Fiction  ...  A mother  snake  will  swallow  her  young 
to  protect  them. 

Fact A new-born  snake,  whether  born  alive 

or  hatched  from  an  egg,  is  on  its  own  a 
few  minutes  after  birth  and  has  no  fam- 
ily ties. 


Fiction  . . . Non-poisonous  snakes  do  not  bite. 

Fact Non-poisonous  snakes  do  bite.  Such 

bites  should  be  treated  by  cleaning  the 
wound  and  applying  an  antiseptic. 

Fiction  ...  If  you  kill  one  snake,  its  mate  will  come 
to  the  scene. 

Fact Snakes  do  not  mate  for  life. 

Fiction  . . . There  is  a poison  dust  inside  the  rattle 
of  a rattlesnake  that  causes  a person  to 
lose  his  eyesight. 

Fact There  is  nothing  inside  the  rattle. 

Fiction  ...  A snake  cannot  strike  unless  it  is  in  a 
coil. 

Fact Snakes  can  strike  from  almost  any  po- 


sition and  in  any  direction. 

Fiction  . . . The  number  of  segments  on  a rattle- 
snake’s tail  indicates  its  age. 

Fact New  segments  are  formed  each  time 

the  snake  sheds  its  skin.  Rattles  are 


often  lost  or  broken,  and  it  is  unusual  to 
see  a perfect  set. 

Fiction  . . . Snakes  are  slimy  to  the  touch. 

Fact Snakes  have  dry  skin. 

Fiction  ...  If  you  kill  a snake  it  will  not  die  until 
sundown. 

Fact Once  a snake  is  dead,  it’s  dead.  The 

movement  often  noted  is  muscular  re- 
action. 


14  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— George  Lavanish 


John  Punola 


Shad  Fishin 

by  John  A.  Punola 

During  the  past  rive  seasons  there  has  been 
a marked  increase  in  the  number  of  shad 
fishermen  on  the  Delaware  River.  Many 
newcomers  are  trout  fishermen  who  are 
thrilled  by  the  prospect  of  catching  a large, 
powerful  gamefish.  This  is  not  generally 
the  case  when  fishing  a majority  of  our 
trout  streams.  The  best  attraction  for  nov- 
ice shad  anglers  is  that  they  don't  need  a 
boat  to  catch  shad.  With  the  proper  equip- 
ment, a bit  of  patience,  and  an  understand- 
ing of  what  the  shore  angler  should  look 
for,  shore  anglers  can  be  as  successful  as 
their  boating  counterparts. 

For  the  angler  going  to  the  river,  a me- 
dium-action spinning  combination,  pref- 
erably with  6-pound-test  monofilament, 
produces  best.  You  need  only  to  attach  a 
shad  dart  and  you  are  ready  to  fish. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  wade  into  the  river. 
If  you  wear  waders  or  hip  boots,  they  will 
do  just  fine,  keeping  your  lower  body  dry. 
The  river  can  be  dangerous,  especially  in 
early  spring.  The  only  extra  equipment 
you  need  is  a wide-mouthed  net  with  a 
long  handle.  You  will  have  problems  trying 
to  net  a 7-pound  shad  with  a trout  landing 
net.  The  top  lure  for  shad  is  the  shad  dart 
and  they  are  easily  obtained  at  any  fishing 
shop.  Invest  in  a variety  of  colors,  such 
as  whites,  yellows  and  greens.  For  shore 
fishing  the  best  weight  is  the  |-ounce  or 
the  flounce  size.  I also  recommend  the 
use  of  polarized  glasses.  There  is  generally 
moderate  to  high  glare  on  the  water. 

For  the  shore  fisherman,  the  shad  dart 
produces  99  percent  of  the  shad  caught. 
The  lure  effectively  serves  two  purposes. 
It  is  easy  to  cast,  and  its  weight  lets  it 
easily  and  quickly  sink  to  the  depth  where 
the  shad  can  be  found.  When  the  season 
begins  in  April,  use  the  j-ounce  size,  and 
as  the  waters  begin  to  recede  and  clear, 
drop  in  size  to  a ff;-ounce  dart  or  smaller. 
Red  and  white  combinations  are  great 
colors,  but  experiment  with  others  if  you 
are  not  catching  shad  and  others  are. 

When  the  shad  are  moving,  they  do  not 
strike  at  a lure  unless  it  is  passing  close 
enough  to  be  an  annoyance.  Shad  do  not 
feed  during  their  spawning  run,  so  the  idea 
is  to  present  the  lure  in  a manner  that  either 
excites  or  annoys  them  into  striking.  Cast 


slightly  upstream,  allowing  the  dart  to  sink 
as  it  passes  by  and  hopefully  through  the 
schools.  You  must  constantly  take  up  the 
slack  line  to  keep  the  dart  from  fouling 
among  the  rocks  or  on  the  bottom. 

To  catch  shad  from  the  shore  you  must 
first  be  able  to  locate  them.  The  quickest 
and  easiest  method  is  to  locate  other  shore 
anglers  and  join  them.  However,  as  shad 
enter  and  proceed  up  the  Delaware,  they 
follow  the  deepest  contour  of  the  river. 
They  are  not  found  in  shallow  or  still  water, 
so  you  must  study  the  river  to  estimate 
where  the  deep  channels  he. 

Many  shad  paths  are  well  within  the 
casting  range  of  the  shore  angler.  There 
are  many  stretches  of  the  river  that  suggest 
obvious  deep  channeling  near  the  shore- 
line, including  some  modest  rapids.  Never 
pass  these  locations  without  trying  your 
luck.  Other  areas  that  produce  shad  are 
sharp  angles  protruding  into  the  river, 
around  bridge  piers  and  the  waters  be- 
tween the  island. 

The  most  obvious  benefit  of  shore  fish- 
ing is  that  within  minutes  after  arrival  at 
the  river  you  can  be  fishing,  and  there  is 
no  lost  time  in  preparation. 

The  other  benefit  is  the  easy  access  to 
the  Delaware  River.  As  you  can  observe 
from  any  highway  map,  good  shore  fish- 
ing can  be  gained  from  the  area  of  Easton 
upstream  to  Matamoras  and  beyond,  and 
paved  highways  such  as  routes  6 1 1 and 
209  keep  you  close  to  the  river.  Farther 
upstream  various  paved  county  roads  do 
likewise. 


Another  aspect  of  shore  fishing  is  the 
marked  increase  in  fly  fishermen  who  are 
fishing  for  shad,  especially  in  the  upper 
reaches  of  the  river  from  about  Matamoras 
and  upstream.  This  portion  of  the  river 
becomes  a large  trout  stream,  with  the 
upper  reaches  above  Callicoon  harboring 
a native  population  of  both  brown  and 
rainbow  trout.  In  this  area  it  is  only  natural 
that  trout  anglers  supplement  their  trout 
fishing  by  using  shad  lures  to  catch  shad. 

When  shad  begin  to  arrive  in  the  upper 
river,  usually  mid-  to  late  May,  most  of 
the  natural  hatching  activity  has  dimin- 
ished and  feeding  activity  of  the  trout  has 
lessened.  At  this  time  fly  fishing  for  shad 
comes  into  its  own.  The  recommended 
outfit  is  an  8-foot  or  9-foot  graphite  rod. 
7-weight  or  8-weight  sinking  line  with  a 
7-foot  leader  and  3x  tippet.  Specially  cre- 
ated shad  flies  are  productive,  but  other 
wet  flies  such  as  salmon  flies  or  regular 
streamers  also  catch  shad.  There  are  some 
occasions  when  shad  rise  and  take  dry 
presentations,  so  you  might  have  on  hand 
your  usual  variety  of  sizes  and  patterns. 
Be  sure  to  have  about  100  yards  of  backing 
on  your  reel.  Shad  run  hard  when  hooked, 
and  in  the  process  they  thrill  you  with 
many  spectacular  leaps. 

Take  time  this  season  to  try  your  luck 
with  others  who  have  found  success  shore 
fishing  for  shad.  1 am  certain  you  will  not 
be  disappointed,  and  when  you  catch  that 
first  shad,  you  will  become  permanently 

hooked,  just  like  me.  

[77] 

April  1 9SS  Pennsylvania  Angler  15 


Pennsylvania  Crappie 


BY  DARL  BLACK 

According  to  a nationwide  survey  of  an- 
glers, the  crappie  is  the  most  sought-after 
fish  across  the  U.S.  I don’t  know  if  the 
crappie  ranks  number  one  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, but  if  it's  not  at  the  top  of  the  list,  it 
is  very  close.  Young  and  old,  and  every- 
one in  between,  like  to  catch  crappies. 
Actually  members  of  the  sunfish  family. 


crappies  have  been  given  a number  of  lo- 
cal nicknames  including  “calico,” 
“speck,”  “papermouth,”  “slab,"  and 
“strawberry  bass.” 

There  are  two  species — the  black  crap- 
pie and  white  crappie.  The  black  crappie 
has  7 to  8 dorsal  spines  and  a heavily 
speckled  body  without  any  set  pattern;  the 
white  crappie  has  6 dorsal  spines  and  dark 
spots  arranged  in  vertical  bands  on  the 
body.  However,  the  average  angler  does 


16  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Fishing  Seminar 


f|  ■: 

+*  />  ' ••  ' •••,.  / 


. r 


not  attempt  to  distinguish  between  the  two. 

Usually  one  of  the  species  dominates  a 
waterway,  depending  on  the  particular 
aquatic  environment.  White  crappies  gen- 
erally develop  stronger  populations  in  tur- 
bid water.  Black  crappies  more  often  are 
established  in  clearer  water. 

If  you  were  to  review  tables  on  the  age 
and  growth  of  crappies  in  Pennsylvania, 
you  would  discover  that  the  average  black 
crappie  is  9 to  10  inches  and  weighs  about 


l-pound.  The  average  white  crappie  is 
slightly  smaller. 

To  provide  the  experienced  and  inex- 
perienced angler  with  some  of  the  best 
Pennsylvania-bred  information  on  crappie 
fishing,  1 interviewed  three  of  the  Key- 
stone State's  best  crappie  fishermen  from 
different  areas  of  the  state  to  get  a balanced 
picture. 

The  central  section  of  the  state  is  rep- 
resented by  Harry  Redline  of  Holtwood. 
A 30-year  crappie  fishing  veteran,  Harry 
will  most  likely  be  found  on  the  Susque- 
hanna River  impoundments  or  Rays- 
town  Lake. 

Kevin  Walsh  of  Scranton  said  that  his 
favorite  northeastern  waters  include  Lake 
Wallenpaupack,  Lake  Henry,  White  Oaks 
and  Lake  Carey.  Kevin  has  been  chasing 
crappies  for  about  14  years. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  state,  Jerry 
Swidzinski  of  Butler  has  seriously  fished 
crappies  since  the  mid-1970s.  His  most 
frequently  fished  waters  are  Lake  Arthur, 
Lake  Wilhelm,  and  Presque  Isle  Bay. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  largest 
crappie  taken  by  two  of  these  experts  has 
been  17  inches,  give  or  take  a fraction  of 
an  inch.  Crappies  of  that  size  are  indeed 
uncommon  in  our  state. 

How  soon  after  ice-out  do  you  start  crap- 
pie fishing? 

SWIDZINSKI:  I start  as  soon  as  I can 
get  the  boat  on  the  water.  Even  if  there  is 
a film  of  ice  out  in  the  middle  of  the  lake, 
if  I can  get  the  boat  in  the  water,  I can 
catch  crappies  on  artificial  baits.  They  will 
be  suspended  over  deepwater  brush  piles. 
I use  a ^3-ounce  jig. 

WALSH:  I generally  start  going  after 
crappies  a week  after  ice-out.  I fish  the 
deeper  areas  with  sharp  breaks,  dam  areas, 
rocky  humps,  and  sometimes  the  mouths 
of  feeder  creeks.  Early  season  crappies  hit 
light,  so  a j2-  to  Trounce  jig  works  well. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  early  season  crap- 
pies prefer  a less  active  bait,  so  1 usually 
start  out  with  a paddle  tail  grub  in  clear 
flake  with  a black  back. 

REDLINE:  We  seldom  have  ice  on  the 
Susquehanna  River  down  my  way.  I fish 


crappies  as  early  as  I can  comfortably 
get  out. 

Everyone  seems  to  be  after  crappies  in 
May.  What  is  your  favorite  late  spring 
water  for  crappies,  and  what  bait  do  you 
recommend  for  the  novice  spring  speck 
angler? 

SWIDZINSKI:  My  late-spring  pick 
would  be  Lake  Arthur.  You  can  go  around 
to  the  logs  and  little  stick-ups  just  under 
the  water’s  surface  and  pick  one  or  two 
nice  crappies  off  each  one.  But  I prefer  to 
fish  crappies  before  or  after  the  spawn  when 
they  are  bunched  up  on  structure. 

My  bait  recommendation  for  the  novice 
is  a small  fathead  minnow  on  a size  6 fine- 
wire  hook.  Be  sure  to  use  a thin-wire  hook 
to  keep  the  bait  lively.  Typically,  you  would 
clip  on  a bobber,  but  if  fishing  deep,  use 
a slip  bobber. 

REDLINE:  1 recommend  the  Cono- 
wingo  Pool  of  the  Susquehanna  River. 
My  bait  of  choice  is  a marabou  or  impala 
hair  jig  in  the  i^-ounce  size. 

WALSH:  In  my  area,  by  late  spring 
the  crappies  seem  to  start  to  pull  for 
the  wood.  Underwater  stumps  that  pro- 
trude up  off  the  bottom  are  prime  picks  for 
large  crappies.  The  more  bushy-type 
stumps  seem  to  hold  more  fish,  but  of  a 
smaller  size. 

1987  Crappie 
Anglers  Awards 

In  1987,  137  junior  and  senior  anglers 
received  awards  for  crappie  catches.  In 
January,  10  were  caught.  February,  24; 
March  17;  April  14;  May,  35;  June,  18; 
July,  7;  August,  5;  September.  4;  October, 
3;  November,  0;  and  in  December,  one 
was  taken. 

Artificial  lures  accounted  for  37,  or  about 
28  percent,  of  all  the  catches.  Jigs  ac- 
counted for  21  of  those  catches.  Live  bait 
fooled  97,  or  about  72  percent,  of  all 
catches.  A minnow  was  used  in  82  in- 
stances. 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


My  Most 
Memorable 
Crappie  Trip 

AS  TOLD 

to  Darl  Black 

Kevin  Walsh — White  Oaks  Lake  was 
the  site  of  my  most  memorable  crappie 
outing.  I was  fishing  with  my  wife.  Merry, 
and  our  friend  Ed  Rossi.  It  was  late  spring 
and  we  had  located  crappies  in  among  a 
group  of  stumps  in  9 feet  of  water.  The 
water  was  clear  enough  to  see  the  calicos 
suspended  alongside  the  thick  stumps.  It 
was  possible  to  spot  a particular  fish,  and 
cast  the  jig  to  it.  The  action  was  fast,  and 
the  catch  was  one  of  the  heaviest  stringers 
of  crappies  I have  ever  taken. 

Jerry  Swidzinski — About  6 to  8 years 
ago,  on  a Memorial  Day,  my  friend  Bob 
Redick  and  I had  launched  our  boat  on 
Lake  Arthur  shortly  before  daylight.  We 
were  working  an  area  near  the  dam  just 
as  the  sun  was  coming  up  when  we  spotted 
some  surface  disturbance  on  a point. 

There,  in  shallow  water  near  the  shore- 
line, were  a mess  of  crappies.  They  were 
milling  around  this  dark  bottom  area,  not 
in  brush  or  other  cover,  apparently  in  the 
process  of  spawning.  This  was  a school 
of  large  crappies,  and  the  water  was  clear 
enough  for  us  to  pick  out  each  fish  we 
desired  to  catch.  If  a small  one  went  for 
the  jig,  we  simply  pulled  it  away.  By  the 
time  we  headed  to  the  ramp  a short  time 
later,  we  had  20  crappies  in  the  livewell, 
each  one  weighing  better  than  a pound. 

Harry  Redline — One  afternoon  in  early 
June  of  1985,  I introduced  a couple  of 
bass  fishermen  to  a huge  school  of  big 
slabs.  These  guys  had  never  fished  calicos 
and  were  a little  bit  disgusted  . . . until 
we  brought  the  first  14-inch  papermouth 
aboard.  We  caught  big  crappies  all  after- 
noon, fast  enough  to  satisfy  anyone,  but 
not  so  fast  that  it  was  too  easy.  We  had 
a fish  fry  that  evening,  and  now  both  guys 
are  hooked  on  calicos! 

It’s  important  to  me  to  help  people  have 
a good  time  without  damaging  the  re- 
source. If  we  had  worked  on  bass  that  day 
and  killed  a limit  apiece,  we  wouldn't  have 
had  any  more  fun,  but  we  would  have  put 
additional  pressure  on  an  already  pres- 
sured fishery.  I’m  not  saying  there  is  no 
end  to  crappies.  I just  believe  that  right 
now  crappies  are  underfished,  and  have  a 
capacity  to  reproduce  and  grow  in  im- 
poundments not  suitable  to  trout  or  bass. 


Where  do  you  look  for  summertime 
crappies? 

REDLINE:  My  fishing  is  done  in  a 
reservoir.  I want  at  least  1 2 feet  of  water 
under  the  boat,  and  usually  I'll  catch  most 
of  the  crappies  in  20  feet  or  more.  You 
almost  always  find  calicos  associated  with 
heavy  wood  in  deep  water.  If  you  are  fish- 
ing from  a boat,  you  need  deep  water  to 
keep  from  spooking  the  fish. 

WALSH:  Summertime  crappies  in  res- 
ervoirs and  natural  lakes  will  usually  be 
found  around  bridge  abutments,  thick  bushy 
cover,  or  simply  suspended  in  18-  to  12- 
foot  depths  in  open  water.  When  most 
gamefish  suspend  they  become  harder  to 
catch,  but  it  seems  just  the  opposite  with 
crappies.  I believe  it  may  be  due  to  the 
large  numbers  of  crappies  grouped  in  an 
area  where  they  must  compete  for  forage. 

SWIDZINSKI:  In  Lake  Arthur  the  black 
crappies  will  be  on  the  brush  There  are 
hundreds  of  brush  piles  on  the  floor  of 
Lake  Arthur,  put  there  by  anglers.  The 
fish  will  be  found  in  the  9-  to  18-foot  range 
all  summer  long.  Either  in  the  brush,  mill- 
ing around  it,  or  suspended  over  it — de- 
pending on  the  weather. 

In  Lake  Wilhelm,  the  white  crappie  will 
be  on  the  edge  of  the  creek  channel.  You 
can  spot  them  on  the  depthfinder.  The  ac- 
tive ones  will  be  on  the  lip;  the  semi-active 
ones  will  be  down  in  the  channel. 


Based  on  your  experience,  briefly  describe 
crappie  movements  in  the  fall. 

WALSH:  The  crappies  seem  to  move 
back  to  the  deepwater  breaks  in  the  fall, 
usually  near  a stream  flowing  in  if  one  is 
available. 

REDLINE:  I find  calicos  on  wood,  ad- 
jacent to  very  deep  water  year-round. 

SWIDZINSKI:  On  my  favorite  reser- 
voirs, I never  experience  a “crappie 
movement”  in  the  fall.  I’ve  caught  them 
on  some  of  the  same  brush  in  December 
as  I did  during  the  summer,  although  more 
of  the  crappies  may  have  moved  onto 
slightly  deeper  brush  piles  nearer  the  chan- 
nel. The  first  day  I have  a boat  on  the 
water  in  the  spring,  I frequently  catch 
crappies  on  the  same  brush  pile  I did  the 
final  day  I had  a boat  on  the  water  the 
previous  fall. 

Crappies  are  popular  with  the  ice  fishing 
fraternity.  Give  us  your  best  ice  fishing  tip 
to  increase  our  crappie  catches. 

SWIDZINSKI:  When  ice  is  on  the  lake, 

I always  seem  to  do  best  on  crappies  just 
before  the  sun  goes  down  until  several 
hours  after  dark — the  4:30  to  10:00  pe- 
riod. The  crappies  under  the  ice  are  not 
necessarily  in  deep  brush.  They’re  on  the 
springtime  areas  along  the  shoreline  or  near 
the  creek  channel. 


18  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Fathead  minnows  are  the  best  baits.  Use 
the  smallest  bobber  you  can  hsh  because 
the  hsh  are  such  light  biters.  Sometimes 
they  don't  pull  the  bobber  under,  but  sim- 
ply slide  it  across  the  hole. 

Rather  than  fishing  the  fathead  on  a 
teardrop  or  single  bait  hook,  I have  found 
that  a very  small  treble  hook — a size  10. 
12,  or  even  a.  Id — does  an  outstanding 
job.  You  miss  fewer  hsh  with  the  treble, 
although  it  is  more  difficult  to  unhook 
the  hsh. 

Do  you  believe  there  are  any  differences 
in  fishing  tactics  for  black  cr apples  versus 
white  croppies? 

WALSH:  I believe  black  crappies  are 
more  aggressive  because  I have  found  that 
they  will  attack  a larger  lure  more  often 
than  white  crappies. 

REDLINE:  We  don't  have  large  pop- 
ulations of  black  crappies  in  southcentral 
Pennsylvania,  but  where  I've  hshed  for 
black  crappies,  I hnd  them  similar  to  white 
crappies. 

SWIDZINSKI:  Lake  Arthur  has  black 
crappies.  Wilhelm  has  predominately  white 
crappies,  although  there  are  some  black 
crappies.  The  two  species  behave  differ- 
ently. The  white  crappies  at  Wilhelm  al- 
ways relate  to  the  creek  channel.  Even 
though  I know  where  there  are  some  brush 
piles  in  the  lake,  I have  never  had  any 
success  fishing  for  W’ilhelm  crappies  on 
the  brush.  Whereas  at  Arthur,  the  black 
crappies  almost  always  relate  to  brush. 
Sometimes  you  may  hnd  them  suspended 
in  the  10-  to  12-foot  range  in  open  water, 
near  edges  or  dropoffs,  but  these  are 
moving  schools;  they  don't  hold  at  these 
structures. 

Based  on  my  experience.  I would  sug- 
gest you  hsh  white  crappies  deeper  and 
closer  to  the  bottom  than  black  crappies. 

Describe  your  most  productive  crappie 
technique. 

WALSH:  One  method  I use  quite  often 
is  to  troll  very  slowly  with  a tV  or  s-ounce 
twister-tail  jig  out  the  back  of  the  boat. 
This  works  well  when  the  hsh  are  scat- 
tered and  hard  to  locate. 

SWIDZINSKI:  The  most  productive 
crappie  lure  is  the  jig.  It  is  controllable 
and  easy  to  hsh.  I use  the  tube  skirts  (also 
called  jump  jigs)  on  a leadhead.  When  I 
started  crappie  hshing  I used  twister  tails, 
but  I have  found  that  the  tube  jig  works 
better  because  you  don't  have  to  swim  it 
as  fast. 

Jighead  size  varies  with  the  time  of  year 
and  the  attitude  of  the  hsh.  Early  in  the 


year  I use  a jh-ounce  head  to  slow  down 
the  retrieve.  Later  in  the  season  you  can 
go  with  a rg-  or  even  a g-ounce  head  to 
get  down  faster  to  the  active  fish. 

REDLINE:  I anchor  over  a tree  top  in 
15  to  20  feet  of  water  and  cast  a iVounce, 
or  lighter,  jig  to  the  shoreline.  I use  a slow, 
swimming  retrieve  and  keep  the  jig  as  close 
to  the  bottom  as  possible.  When  I have  it 
under  the  boat.  I'll  jig  it  a few  times  near 
the  bottom,  then  wind  up  for  another  cast. 

What  are  xour  recommendations  for  an 
angler  looking  to  buy  a crappie  rod  and 
reel  combination? 

WALSH:  An  excellent  choice  for  crap- 
pies is  a long  but  limber  graphite  rod.  Rig 
this  with  an  ultralight  spinning  reel  and  4- 
to  6-pound-test  line.  I prefer  4-pound  clear- 
blue  fluorescent  line  because  you  can  see 
the  line  twitch  on  a strike. 

SWIDZINSKI:  For  a crappie  outfit  I 
recommend  a spinning  rod  with  an  open 
face  reel.  The  rod  has  to  be  light,  but  I 
don't  like  long  ones.  When  hshing  jigs 
you  want  a sensitive  graphite  or  boron  rod 
with  a light  tip.  but  not  whippy.  Crappies 
aren't  hard  hitters;  you  need  the  light  tip 
to  feel  the  light  takes.  Sometimes  they 
pick  up  a bait  so  lightly  you  can  hardly 
detect  it. 

At  one  time  I had  a big  hsh  tank  set  up 
to  watch  crappies.  They  would  swim  up 
to  a bait,  inhale  it  and  blow  it  right  back 
out  as  quickly  as  you  could  blink.  For  this 
reason,  you  must  be  a line  watcher  rather 
than  a line  feeler.  To  enable  me  to  see  the 
line,  I use  a fluorescent  line  as  opposed 
to  a green  or  clear  line,  which  is  almost 
invisible. 

I’ve  found  6-pound-test  line  to  be  ideal. 
It  casts  light  lures,  yet  is  strong  enough 
to  straighten  out  jig  hooks  when  snagged. 

REDLINE:  The  rod  should  be  made 
of  good  graphite  for  maximum  sensitivity. 
I use  a custom  5-foot.  3-inch  graphite  w ith 
a very  short  handle  that  forces  me  to  put 
my  thumb  and  index  Anger  on  the  blank. 
Four-pound  test  is  the  only  line  I use. 
This  light  line  prevents  me  from  ruining 
a spot  by  displacing  cover  if  I pull  on  a 
snagged  lure. 

About  90  percent  of  my  strikes  are  vis- 
ual. You've  got  to  watch  the  line! 

My  reels  are  good  quality  open  face 
spinning,  for  ease  in  casting  the  tiny  V- 
ounce  lures  that  are  sometimes  needed. 
I've  Ane-tuned  the  drags  by  polishing  the 
washers  and  lubricating  them  for  optimum 
performance.  I don't  want  to  lose  big  2- 
pound  slabs,  or  incidental  gameAsh  catches, 
because  of  a poor  drag. 


Although  you  have  already  told  us  about 
xour  best  technique,  we  still  want  a peek 
inside  xour  crappie  tackle  box.  What's 
in  there? 

REDLINE:  Because  I lose  so  mans 
lures  in  the  brush,  1 tie  mv  own  jigs.  To 
a iVounce  jighead  with  a size  4 hook.  1 
tie  a marabou  or  kip  tail  in  white/yellow, 
chartreuse,  or  green/white.  In  manufac- 
tured lures  I use  tube  jigs  and  tw  ister  tails. 

In  addition,  you  will  And  panfish 
scent  in  my  box,  a few  small  crankbaits. 
plain  leadheads  to  Ash  a minnow,  and 
some  flies. 

WALSH:  I never  use  live  bait.  I enjoy 
the  challenge  of  lure  Ashing  for  crappies. 
Lure  choices  include  iVounce  jigs  and  1- 
to  2-inch  twisters  in  yellow,  white,  clear 
flake,  and  black  smoke  flake. 

SWIDZINSKI:  I ve  gotten  away  from 
using  live  bait,  so  I don't  cany  live-bait 
riggings.  My  box  has  lots  of  jigs  in  the 
j2-,  tV  and  i-ounce  sizes.  1 use  tube  bod- 
ies almost  exclusively.  Colors  include 
white/clear  sparkle  and  yellow/clear  spar- 
kle combinations.  If  there  is  an  insect  hatch 
coming  off  the  water.  I've  had  better  suc- 
cess sw  itching  to  a grey  or  smoke-colored 
tube  jib.  rather  than  the  brighter  ones  1 
normally  use.  because  you  can  be  sure  the 
crappies  are  feeding  on  the  hatch. 

There  are  some  small  bobbers  in  my 
box.  The  stick-type  is  best.  Sometimes  1 
break  the  body  loose  and  slide  it  to  one 
end  of  the  stick  so  the  weight  of  the  stick 
makes  the  bobber  lie  over  on  its  side.  This 
way  the  light-biting  crappies  can  easily 
stand  the  bobber  upright,  rather  than  pull 
it  under. 

Occasionally  I vertically  jig  a very  small 
Hopkins  or  Kastmaster  lure  if  I am  sitting 
right  over  a school  of  suspended  crappies. 
so  there  are  a few  of  these  lures  in 
my  box. 

What  do  you  consider  the  best  time  of  the 
year  for  fast  action  on  big  papermouths? 

WALSH:  Big  crappies  are  most  easily 
caught  just  before  the  spawn  around  the 
Arst  to  third  week  of  May  in  my  area, 
depending  on  the  weather  and  w ater  tem- 
perature. However,  the  fastest  action  would 
have  to  be  in  early  June  w hen  the  crappies 
Arst  get  on  the  wood. 

REDLINE:  I've  had  great  trips 

throughout  the  year,  but  I like  the  fall  best. 

SWIDZINSKI:  I never  really  found  a 
time  you  couldn't  catch  crappies.  Maybe 
that's  why  they  are  so  popular. 

F*1 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


Sunken  Structures  Lift 
Pymatuning  Fishing 

by  Linda  Steiner 


Anglers  at  Pymatuning  Lake  should  have 
even  better  fishing  in  the  future,  thanks  to 
an  on-going  project  to  add  fish  habitat 
structure  to  the  lake.  Since  1984,  over 
2,400  Christmas  trees  and  more  than  200 
bundles  of  tires  were  placed  mainly  in  the 
southern  section  of  the  lake.  These  will 
provide  spawning  and  nursery  grounds  as 
well  as  cover  to  congregate  baitrtsh  and 
attract  gamefish. 

The  work  of  the  project  was  shared  by 
the  Fish  Commission,  especially  Western 
Crawford  County  Waterways  Conserva- 
tion Officer  Warren  Beaver  and  the  Di- 
vision of  Fisheries  Environmental  Ser- 
vices; the  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources  and  Pymatuning  State  Park, 
Gene  Hart,  superintendent;  and  area 
sportsmen.  Materials  were  donated  by 
nearby  towns  and  businesses  to  create  the 
structures. 

Traditionally,  the  northern  end  of  Py- 
matuning Lake  had  many  sunken  stumps 
and  logs,  remnants  of  the  swampland  that 
was  flooded  in  the  1930s  when  the  lake 
was  formed.  In  the  southern  end,  the  for- 
ests had  been  cut  and  cleared  before  in- 
undation, so  there  was  little  natural  un- 
derwater structure  to  draw  fish.  In  the  50 
years  since  then,  the  decaying  process  re- 
moved much  of  the  residual  woody  debris. 

In  the  winter  of  1984.  the  first  few  lake 
habitat  improvement  devices  were  sunk  in 
Pymatuning.  Over  200  Christmas  trees  were 
collected  from  Jamestown  and  Linesville, 
communities  on  the  lake’s  southern  and 
northern  ends.  The  trees  were  bundled 
with  cable,  weighted  and  placed  on  the 
ice  to  await  the  spring  melt.  Then  they 
fell  through. 

Immediately  there  was  positive  reaction 
from  anglers,  with  increased  fishing  suc- 
cess during  the  next  year  around  the  ar- 
tificial structures.  After  that,  the  Fish 
Commission’s  Division  of  Fisheries  En- 
vironmental Services  staff,  Ron  Tibbott 
and  Dave  Houser,  along  with  DER’s 
Aquatic  Biologist  Specialist  Russ  Maurer, 
cooperated  to  develop  a comprehensive 

20  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


plan  of  placing  habitat  devices  in  the  lake. 
It's  a plan  that  can  continue  as  long  as 
materials  and  manpower  are  available. 

In  1985,  the  project  was  expanded.  This 
time  over  1 ,()(X)  Christmas  trees  were  col- 
lected, not  only  from  Jamestown  and 
Linesville,  but  also  from  nearby  Green- 
ville and  Meadville.  Also  that  year,  96 
bundles  of  tires,  as  nine-tire  “castles,” 
were  sunk.  Assisting  in  the  placement  were 
Pymatuning  Park  employees,  members  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Conservation  Corps,  and 
WCO  Beaver. 

The  effort  was  joined  by  the  Shenango 
Sportsman’s  Club  in  1986,  when  125  bun- 
dles of  five  tires  each  were  placed,  as  were 
1 ,200  Christmas  trees.  This  year,  the  group 
expects  to  sink  the  same  amount  in  the 
lake,  and  to  fell  trees  along  the  shoreline 
for  bass  habitat. 


The  underwater  structures  have  been  at- 
tracting fishermen  as  well  as  fish,  with 
good  results.  One  improvement  already 
noticeable  is  that  crappies  are  being  caught, 
even  through  the  summer  months.  Park 
Superintendent  Hart  says  he  has  seen  the 
devices  “definitely  result  in  increased  an- 
gler success.”  Hart  also  said  he  could  use 
the  help  of  organized  clubs  in  placing  the 
habitat  structures,  through  their  involve- 
ment in  the  “Volunteers  in  Parks”  pro- 
gram. Interested  groups  can  contact  him 
at  Pymatuning  State  Park.  The  phone 
number  is:  412-932-3141. 

In  choosing  where  to  sink  the  devices, 
areas  in  the  lake  were  identified  that  looked 
like  “underwater  deserts.”  Big,  flat 
“fields,”  where  the  bottom  was  barren, 
of  from  10  to  20  acres,  in  10  to  15  feet 
of  water,  were  selected.  It  takes  up  to  50 
bundles  to  fill  an  acre,  to  make  an  artificial 
“reef”  large  enough  to  be  useful  to  fish. 
Though  the  tires  will  persist  longer,  the 
Christmas  trees  will  last  only  three  to  five 
years.  Once  the  placement  plan  is  com- 
pleted, renewal  will  be  nearly  continuous. 

Fishermen  can  locate  the  structures  with 
depth  finders  or,  in  some  cases,  by  sight, 
but  the  best  way  is  to  obtain  a map,  free 
of  charge,  from  Pymatuning  State  Park, 
P.O.  Box  425,  Jamestown,  PA  16134. 

Until  your  map  arrives,  here  are  some 
hints  on  where  to  look  (going  north  to 
south  down  the  lake): 

Just  offshore  from  the  University  of 
Pittsburgh  property. 

South  of  the  fishing  platforms  along  the 
causeway. 

Midlake  off  the  Westford  Picnic  Area. 

Off  Snodgrass  Launch. 

In  41  Bay. 

In  the  bay  mouth  at  Jamestown  Camp. 

Off  the  Century  Boat  Club. 

Between  the  dam  and  the  first  small 
island  to  the  north. 

These  are  just  the  current  hotspots.  Ex- 
pect more  every  year. 


illustration— Linda  Steiner 


qraphics—Rose  Boeali 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


Spinner  fishing  has  come  a long  way 
since  returning  GIs  brought  the  new- 
fangled technique  home  from  post- 
war Europe.  Much  product  development 
and  refinement  has  taken  place  over  the 
past  40  years.  Today,  spinners  are  one  of 
the  most  effective  trout  lures,  yet  many 
anglers  overlook  them  during  the  first  few 
weeks  of  the  season. 

Spinners  come  in  many  styles,  finishes 
and  sizes.  The  three  most  popular  blade 
styles  are  the  Colorado,  Indiana  and  wil- 
low leaf.  Colorado  blades  are  short  and 
wide.  They  emit  more  attention-grabbing 
vibrations  than  the  other  two  styles.  These 
far-reaching  vibrations  make  the  Colorado 
blade  an  excellent  choice  for  covering  dingy 
water.  Because  of  its  greater  surface  area, 
the  Colorado  blade  must  be  retrieved  at  a 
faster  speed  to  get  the  blade  to  turn. 

The  willow  leaf  blade  is  long  and  slen- 
der. It  turns  much  easier,  making  it  ideal 
for  slow-retneve  situations,  especially  when 
the  water  is  cold  or  clear.  The  Indiana 
blade  falls  between  the  Colorado  and  wil- 
low leaf  blades,  both  in  shape  and  required 
retrieve  speed. 

Blade  colors  have  changed  greatly  in 
the  last  decade.  Nickel  is  by  far  the  most 
popular  blade  finish,  a holdover  from  the 
early  days  of  spinner  fishing.  The  bright 
blade  is  a good  choice  in  clear  water  and 
on  days  with  bright  sunlight.  The  old  bright- 
day-bright-lure  rule  of  thumb  applies. 
Gold  or  bronze  blades  catch  fish  in  clear 
water,  too,  but  I have  found  that  these 
colors  produce  best  when  the  water  is 
off-colored. 

Sometimes  something  different  works. 
On  dark  days  a subdued  color,  like  black, 
is  often  just  what  is  needed  for  clear  water. 

22  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Prismatic  blades  are  catching  on  with  fish- 
ermen, too.  These  plastic  overlays  are 
bonded  to  the  blade.  They  refract  a max- 
imum amount  of  light  and  when  pulled 
over  a sunlit  shallow  riffle  in  clear  water, 
they  remind  me  of  a bright  darting  ray  of 
light.  Some  blades  are  hammered  to  help 
refract  light.  Painted  finishes  are  also  of- 
fered, usually  in  hot  orange,  green  or 
yellow. 

One  of  the  banes  of  spinner  enthusiasts 
is  the  tarnished  blade.  A small  piece  of 
steel  wool  or  a metal  polish  restores  the 
original  lustre  in  seconds.  It  doesn't  hurt 
to  touch  up  the  body  beads,  either. 

Blade  size  and  lure  weight  are  matched 
by  the  manufacturer.  Size  0,  1 and  2 
produce  well,  depending  on  the  water  flow, 
clarity  and  size  of  fish  sought.  Try  size  0 
on  small  streams  and  when  the  water  is 
low.  Size  1 is  the  best  overall  blade  size. 
It  is  small  enough  to  entice  trout  of  all 
lengths  but  large  enough  to  prevent  fish 
from  engorging  the  hooks  fully.  Reserve 
size  2 and  larger  for  big  water,  big  lish  or 
fast-flow  situations. 

Spinners  come  with  a plain  or  dressed 
hook,  either  a single  or  treble.  Commer- 
cial hook  dressings  are  either  squirrel  tail 
or  a fly  pattern.  A few  regionally  manu- 
factured spinners  use  trimmed  rubber  as  a 
hook  dressing. 

Small  spinners  dressed 
with  fly  patterns  often 
catch  fish  when  bare 
spinners  will  not. 


Small  spinners  dressed  with  fly  patterns 
often  catch  fish  when  bare  spinners  will 
not.  Small  Mepps  or  Joe’s  Flies  spinner 
flies  entice  early  season  fish  in  Tioga 
County's  Pine  Creek,  Cameron  County’s 
West  Creek  and  Bald  Eagle  Creek  in  Centre 
County.  Twitch  the  rod  tip  as  you  reel  the 
spinner  in. 

Weight-forward  spinners 

Weight-forward  spinners  let  you  work 
water  that  was  previously  unfishable.  All 
too  often  the  fast  current  of  spring  pushes 
conventional  spinners  up  within  eight  inches 
of  the  surface.  These  spinners  feature  a 
lead  head  weighing  as  much  as  f-ounce, 
molded  around  the  front  portion  of  the 
wire  shaft.  The  spinner  blade  is  mounted 
behind  the  weight,  which  is  usually  painted. 
Weight-forward  spinners  are  rigged  with 
either  a treble  or  single  hook.  The  single 
hook  lends  itself  well  to  hooking  a worm, 
minnow  or  rubber  twister  tail. 

The  weight-forward  spinner  sinks  quickly 
and  can  be  retrieved  slower  than  weight- 
less spinners.  In  addition  to  a straight  cast 
and  retrieve,  pause  the  spinner.  Strikes 
occur  as  it  momentarily  flutters  and  re- 
sumes its  direction. 

Small  weight-forward  spinners  such  as 
the  Erie  Dearie,  Mepps  Lusox  and  Rooster 
Eye  get  down  where  early  season  trout 
are.  Weighted  spinners  can  also  be  jigged. 
This  is  effective  along  the  edge  of  a deep, 
undercut  bank.  The  resulting  yo-yo,  up- 
and-down  lateral  motion  draws  even  the 
most  cautious  trout. 

Weight-forward  spinners  are  ideal  for 
streams  that  have  deep  pools  with  mod- 
erate current,  such  as  French  Creek  in 
Chester  County.  On  several  occasions  1 


illustration — Ted  Walke 


Mark  Nate 


have  seen  spinners  pulled  over  trout  lying 
four  to  five  feet  under  the  lure.  A weight- 
forward  spinner  passes  right  through  the 
strike  zone. 

Rods,  reels 

One  of  the  keys  to  spinner  fishing  is  to 
remain  in  contact  with  the  lure.  A me- 
dium- to  light-action  5-  to  6-foot  graphite 
rod  offers  the  ultimate  in  sensitivity.  A 
moderate-retrieve  ratio  reel  spooled  with 
4-  or  6-pound  test  allows  you  to  cast  light 
spinners  long  distances  and  for  the  lure  to 
run  deeper.  Today’s  spinning  reels  feature 
high-speed  retrieve.  Ratios  of  6.1  to  1 are 


not  uncommon,  but  unbeknownst  to  the 
angler,  the  lure  is  moved  much  too  fast. 

Because  it  is  much  easier  to  reel  faster 
than  it  is  to  slow  down,  try  a spinning  reel 
with  a 5.1  to  1 or  lower  gear  ratio.  The 

A small,  high-quality 
ball-bearing  snap  swivel 
is  a must  for  successful 
spinner  fishing. 


difference  in  the  number  of  fish  brought 
to  net  may  surprise  you.  Also  pay  attention 
to  the  diameter  of  the  spool.  The  larger 
the  spend  diameter,  the  more  line  will  be 
taken  up  in  one  turn  of  the  handle. 

A small,  high-quality  ball  bearing  snap 
swivel  is  a must  for  successful  spinner 
fishing.  Inexpensive  swivels  may  look  at- 
tractive at  the  cash  register,  but  their  per- 
formance on  the  stream  is  disappointing. 

Tie  your  line  to  the  swivel  with  a good 
knot  such  as  a Palomar  or  improved  clinch 
knot.  If  the  line  has  been  stressed  by  sev- 
eral fish  or  a freed  snag,  cut  several  feet 
off  your  line  and  retie. 

Increase  your  hookups  by  sharpening 
the  point  of  each  hook  on  your  spinners 
before  hitting  the  water  and  after  every 
few  fish. 

Finding  fish 

Once  properly  equipped,  finding  fish  is 
next  on  a spinfisherman’s  list  of  priorities. 
Rainbows  often  rest  and  feed  in  currents, 
facing  upstream.  Brook  trout  seek  quieter 
water,  keeping  an  eye  on  what  the  current 
washes  down.  Browns  are  typically  found 
in  water  affording  a quiet  resting  area  and 
an  adjacent  current  bringing  a steady  flow 
of  food. 

Large  rocks  provide  a break  in  the  cur- 
rent, offering  sanctuary  to  trout,  especially 
early  in  the  year  when  waters  run  swiftly. 
Trout  lie  behind,  in  front  of  and  even  un- 
der rocks.  Casting  several  feet  down- 
stream from  the  eddy  created  by  the  rock 
and  using  a slow  retrieve  entice  fish  lying 
in  ambush  behind  the  rock.  A cast  several 
feet  above  the  rock  pulled  right  through 
the  pocket  may  also  provoke  a strike. 

Many  streams  have  a well-worn  path 
on  one  bank,  usually  the  one  closest  to 
the  road.  Try  crossing  the  stream  and  fish- 
ing from  the  opposite  bank.  This  tactic  not 
only  gives  the  fish  a different  perspective 
of  your  spinner  but  enables  you  to  cast  to 
hard-to-reach  pockets. 

When  creeks  become  rain-swollen,  lakes 
are  still  productive.  Rainbows  are  espe- 
cially fond  of  size  1 spinners  in  yellow, 
black  and  silver.  Cast  the  shallows  just  off 
the  shore,  then  wade  out  to  a comfortable 
depth.  Be  sure  to  cast  parallel  to  the  shore- 
line a few  times  before  moving  on. 

Begin  working  a lake  by  running  the 
spinner  a couple  of  feet  under  the  surface. 
If  that  proves  fruitless,  count  the  spinner 
down  several  more  feet.  Continue  to  alter 
the  depth  by  varying  the  time  between 
splashdown  and  retrieving  the  lure.  The 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


24  April  1988 


Pennsylvania  Angler 


Sizes  0,  1 and  2 
produce  well, 
depending  on  the  water 
flow,  clarity  and  size  of 
the  fish  sought. 

speed  of  the  retrieve  also  effects  run- 
ning depth. 

Lakes  where  spinners  produce  consist- 
ently include  Scotts  Run  Lake  in  French 
Creek  State  Park,  Berks  County;  Lyman 
Lake  in  Potter  County;  Koons  Lake  off 
Route  220  in  Bedford  County;  Upper 
Woods  Pond  in  Wayne  County;  Chapman 
Lake  off  Route  247  near  Montdale  in 
Lackawanna  County;  Cowans  Gap  Lake 
off  Route  75  on  the  Fulton-Franklin  County 
line;  Donegal  Lake  off  Route  7 1 1 in  West- 
moreland County;  Laurel  Lake  in  Pine 
Grove  Furnace  State  Park  in  Cumberland 
County;  tiny  Oxbow  Lake,  north  of  Tunk- 
hannock  in  Wyoming  County;  and  Union 
City  Reservoir  off  Route  97  in  Erie  County. 

Small  streams  also  hold  potential  for 
spinner  fishing.  I've  enjoyed  success  with 
spinners  on  streams  like  Mosquito  Creek 
in  Clearfield  County,  Hammer  Creek  in 
Lancaster  County  and  Hickory  Run  in 
Carbon  County.  Cast  size  0 Mepps  Aglia 
and  Panther  Martins  to  the  tails  of  pools 
and  along  the  edges  of  currents. 

Larger  streams  such  as  Kettle  Creek  off 
Route  144  in  Ole  Bull  State  Park,  Ridley 
Creek  off  Route  3 in  Delaware  County 
and  the  Yellow  Breeches  in  Cumberland 
County  lend  themselves  to  spinner  fishing. 
Philadelphia  anglers  should  try  spinners  in 
Wissahickon  Creek.  CP  Swings  reeled  in 
just  fast  enough  to  turn  the  blades  are  pro- 
ductive in  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love’s 
trout  fishery. 

On  bigger  waters  cast  across  the  stream 
at  a 10  o’clock  or  2 o’clock  angle.  Close 
the  bail  as  soon  as  the  lure  hits  the  water. 
As  the  spinner  drifts  past,  you  should  feel 
the  blade  turning.  If  the  blade  is  not  turn- 
ing, twitch  the  rod  tip  with  a flick  of  the 
g wrist  to  engage  the  blade  in  the  current. 
| Trout  often  strike  as  the  spinner  swings 
s-  directly  downstream. 


Work  the  spinner  back  with  an  irregular 
retrieve.  Twitch  the  rod  tip  occasionally 
or  drop  the  rod  tip  to  allow  the  blade  to 
flutter  and  drop  back.  Alter  the  speed  of 
the  retrieve.  Trout  follow'  a baitrtsh  for 
some  distance  and  if  the  prey  suddenly 
flees  with  a burst  of  speed,  the  fish  will 
pounce  on  the  bait,  or  in  this  case, 
your  lure. 

Fish  the  spinner  all  the  way  back  to 
within  six  inches  of  the  rod  tip.  I’ve  caught 
fish  within  several  feet  of  me.  especially 
when  the  water  is  discolored.  Polarized 
sunglasses  help  cut  the  surface  glare,  al- 
lowing anglers  to  see  follows  in  many  cases. 
If  you  can  see  a fish  following  the  blade, 
twitch  or  drop  the  rod  tip.  Chances  are 
you'll  draw  a strike. 

Don't  overlook  the  fishing  fun  available 
in  catch-and-release  or  delayed-harvest, 
artificial-lures-only  special-regulation  areas. 
Hooks  must  be  barbless  in  catch-and-re- 
lease  areas.  Both  areas  are  open  to  year- 
round  fishing.  These  areas  are  listed  in  the 
Summary  of  Fishing  Regulations  and  Laws 
1988,  available  with  your  license. 

Two  of  my  year-round  favorites  are  the 
Tulpehocken  Creek  below  Blue  Marsh  Lake 
in  Berks  County  and  the  Middle  Branch 
of  White  Clay  Creek  in  Chester  County. 
The  “Tully,”  as  it  is  known  locally,  offers 
a variety  of  pools  and  runs.  Fish  Com- 
mission Area  Fisheries  Manager  Mike 
Kaufmann  says  that  the  Tulpehocken  is 
one  of  the  most  fertile  waters  in  the  south- 
east, an  idea  borne  out  of  the  size  and 
build  of  the  fish  in  the  stream.  The  fish 
are  larger,  so  I opt  for  a size  1 or  2 blade 
and  6-pound-test  line.  Dressed  hooks  def- 
initely catch  more  trout  on  the  Tully. 
Brown,  black,  silver  and  white  Rooster 
Tails  and  squirrel  tail  Mepps  Aglia  work 
well  here. 

The  White  Clay  is  a smaller  stream,  so 
size  0 or  1 will  do.  Most  of  my  March 
and  April  successes  here  come  on  yellow/ 
orange  or  yellow/black  Panther  Martins 
and  Mepps  Lightning  spinners.  Fishing 
small  streams  like  the  White  Clay  involves 
much  pitch-casting.  A soft  underhand  lob 
is  all  it  takes  to  get  the  spinner  into  action 
with  a minimum  of  disturbance. 

There  is  more  to  successful  early  season 
spinner  fishing  than  simply  casting  and 
retrieving.  With  a basic  knowledge  of  pre- 
sentation techniques,  a selection  of  spin- 
ners and  a balanced  outfit,  you  can  catch 
trout  on  spinners  from  opening  day  on. 


25 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


The  Dry  Flies 
of  Early  Spring 

by  Ed  H owey 


Insect  activity  on  Pennsylvania  streams 
begins  far  earlier  in  the  year  than  many 
anglers  realize.  Some  early  hatches  like 
the  hallowed  Quill  Gordon  and  Hendrick- 
son rank  among  the  year’s  best  for  bring- 
ing trout  to  the  surface. 

In  A Modem  Diy  Fly  Code,  Vince  Mar- 
inaro  told  how  the  Cumberland  County  fly 
fishers  eagerly  awaited  the  arrival  of  the 
Hendricksons,  and  how  he  was  haunted 
by  the  spectre  of  a spring  so  balmy  that 
the  hatch  would  come  too  early — before 
the  mid-April  opening  day.  Back  then,  of 
course,  we  had  no  extended  seasons,  so 
an  early  hatch  was  a lost  hatch,  but  today, 
those  who  fish  flies  or  artificial  lures  can 
find  plenty  of  water  to  work.  Regulated 
sections — fly  fishing  only,  or  catch  and 
release — are  not  shut  down  between  March 
1st  and  opening  day  as  are  other  stocked 
streams,  so  we  needn't  worry  about  “too- 
early”  hatches.  Instead  we  can  concen- 
trate on  being  successful  in  the  uncertain 
conditions  of  the  early  season. 

The  cornerstone  of  successful  dry  fly 
fishing  in  any  season  is  finding  the  places 
where  insects  emerge  in  sufficient  num- 
bers to  bring  trout  to  the  surface.  Obvious 
as  it  may  seem,  this  job  is  not  that  easy 
at  any  time,  and  getting  if  done  in  the  early 
season  requires  a bit  of  luck  with  the 
weather.  Bank-full  torrents  from  March 
until  June  thwart  the  dry  fly  hopeful  sim- 
ply because  it’s  almost  impossible  to  spot 
the  evidence  of  active  fish  in  this  kind  of 


water.  And  if  the  water  is  too  cold  (below 
50  degrees,  generally),  there  is  likely  to 
be  little  activity  to  spot,  even  in  clear 
weather. 

Fortunately,  not  every  spring  brings 
persistent,  raw,  wet  weather  and  bank-full 
streams.  Last  year  a string  of  sunny  days 
in  early  March  lured  me  to  the  West  Branch 
Octoraro  Creek,  a nearby  stream  governed 
by  fly-fishing-only  and  delayed-harvest 
regulations.  Though  I look  on  these  early 
outings  primarily  as  scouting  trips,  I al- 
ways take  a rod  along,  and  on  this  bright 
day  I used  it  (with  notable  lack  of  success) 
to  drift  a Hare’s  Ear  nymph  through  likely 
looking  runs. 

Reaching  an  area  where  a fallen  maple 
spanned  the  stream,  I climbed  the  bank  to 
walk  around  the  obstacle,  and  from  a few 
feet  above  the  stream  paused  to  survey  the 
pool  below,  hoping  to  spot  a shadowy 
form  or  two  as  I often  do  when  the  water 
is  clear  enough.  But  on  this  day  I saw 
something  else — a rise  ring  in  the  ripply 
current  streaming  from  beneath  the  log. 
As  I watched,  three  more  appeared. 

Returning  to  the  tail  of  the  pool  I used 
my  mesh  baseball  cap  to  snare  a small, 
black  downwing  fly  adrift  on  the  current. 
A scramble  through  my  fly  boxes  yielded 
no  small,  black  downwings,  so  I took  the 
darkest  size  14  up-wing  I could  find  and 
barbered  the  wings  and  hackle,  a held  fix 
good  enough  to  fool  three  nice  holdovers 
in  the  next  half-hour. 


On  that  day  in  early  March,  conditions 
were  exactly  right  for  success  with  early 
season  dries — balmy  weather,  a clear 
stream,  and  visible  evidence  of  fish  feed- 
ing on  the  surface.  I'd  have  been  better 
prepared,  however,  had  I done  the  home- 
work necessary  to  learn  that  the  fly  boxes 
should  include  some  size  14  downwings 
at  that  time  of  year.  I’ve  done  it  since, 
and  have  learned  that  getting  working 
knowledge  of  the  flies  of  early  spring  is 
not  that  big  a deal. 


Early  Black  Stonefly  (Capnia 
Vernalis ) 

The  fly  to  which  trout  were  rising  on 
the  West  Branch  that  March  day  was  the 
Early  Black  Stonefly,  and  wherever  he 
lives  he  can  be  counted  on  to  be  about  the 
business  of  propagating  the  species  by  early 
March.  On  bright,  sunny  days  look  for 
fish  rising  in  pools  downstream  from  stony 
riffle  water.  If  you  find  them,  try  a dark 
size  14  or  16  downwing  like  the  Henry- 
ville  Special.  If  you  tie  your  own,  try  a 
hair  downwing  pattern  with  a dubbed  black 
body,  dark  dun  palmered  hackle,  and  a 
medium  grey  deer  hair  wing  tied  to  lay  as 
flat  as  possible,  with  little  flare. 


Little  Blue-Winged  Olive 

{Baetis  Vagans) 

This  is  the  earliest  mayfly  to  herald  the 
arrival  of  spring.  More  common  on  lime- 
stone-influenced streams,  good  hatches  can 
appear  in  southern  areas  of  the  state  as 
early  as  mid-March,  and  by  April  Fool’s 
Day,  emergence  should  be  in  full  swing 
wherever  the  flies  are  found.  Expect  the 
hatch  to  appear  just  before  noon,  lasting 
until  mid-aftemoon  when  the  weather  is 
favorable,  but  keep  in  mind  that  foul 
weather  can  delay  or  abort  the  process. 

The  tiniest  of  the  early  season  insects 
(a  small  size  18),  Vagans  is  most  plentiful 
in  moderately  fast  runs  and  riffles,  espe- 
cially where  stream  obstacles  can  trap  de- 
bris and  litter. 

Fly  shops  and  catalogs  offer  a variety 
of  Blue- Winged  Olive  patterns  because  so 


26  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Ed  Howey 


many  different  mayfly  species  fit  this  gen- 
eral description.  The  one  you're  looking 
for  is  a size  1 8 with  an  olive-brown  body, 
medium-gray  wing,  and  medium-dun 


Quill  Gordon  (Epeorus 
Pleuralis ) 

Fly  fishing  literature  is  laden  with  praise 
for  the  early  season  Quill  Gordon,  and 
although  extremely  sensitive  to  deterio- 
rating water  quality,  a surprising  number 
of  our  streams  still  provide  fishable  hatches. 
Penns  Creek,  for  instance,  shakes  off  the 
damaging  effects  of  its  trip  through  the 
heavily  farmed  land  upstream  from  Co- 
bum to  produce  useful  Epeorus  hatches  in 
several  sections  of  the  regulated  water  be- 
low Poe  Paddy  campground. 

In  mild  weather.  Quill  Gordons  can  ap- 
pear on  the  state's  southern  streams  during 
the  first  week  of  April,  occurring  later  in 
colder  weather,  and  later  still  in  more 
northerly  regions.  By  the  first  of  May  only 
stragglers  remain,  and  the  Quill  Gordon 
season  is  about  over. 

Of  all  the  early  season  mayflies,  Epeo- 
rus demands  the  fastest,  freshest  water,  so 
pay  attention  to  rapids  and  riffles.  Fish  the 
pocket  water  and  eddies  among  the  boul- 
ders but  be  sure  to  cover  the  head  of  a 
pool  or  run  into  which  the  fast  water  dumps 
its  bounty  of  duns. 

Quill  Gordon  is  the  first  of  spring's  larger 
mayflies  and  trout  seem  to  sense  their 
coming.  On  pleasant  days  hatching  takes 
place  about  midday,  possibly  later  if  the 
weather  tends  to  be  cool.  Unlike  most 
mayflies,  Epeorus  escapes  the  nymphal 
shuck  under  the  water,  swims  to  the  sur- 
face and  gets  off  quickly.  For  this  reason 
many  dry  fly  anglers  fish  an  emerger  type 
of  artificial  that  floats  low  in  the  film,  or 
sinks  very  slowly  if  swamped. 

Most  well-stocked  suppliers  carry 
emerger  patterns  and  you  should  be  able 
to  find  a size  12  in  the  olive-grey  tints  of 
the  Quill  Gordon.  If  not.  you’ll  almost 
certainly  find  the  traditional  upwing  pat- 
tern. It  can  be  as  effective  as  the  emerger 
in  cold  weather  and  affords  the  opportu- 
nity to  approximate  the  emerger  by  cutting 
off  the  wings  to  short  stubs,  and  trimming 
away  the  hackle  fibers  beneath  the  hook 
shank  so  that  the  fly  floats  flush. 


Blue  Quill  ( P . Adoptiva ) 

As  the  Quill  Gordon  activity  fades  in 
late  April,  your  next  dry  fly  opportunity 
could  come  from  either  of  a pair  of  early 
season  mayflies.  The  Blue  Quill  and  the 
Hendrickson  both  appear  in  the  period 
spanning  the  last  two  weeks  of  April  and 
the  first  several  days  of  May.  The  Blue 
Quill  definitely  favors  freestone  waters, 
and  on  streams  where  both  thrive,  like 
Columbia  County's  Big  Fishing  Creek,  they 
usually  appear  earliest  by  several  days. 

Likely  to  emerge  in  great  numbers  over 
a fairly  lengthy  span  from  shortly  after 
noon  until  3 or  4 p.m.,  this  tiny,  smoky 
winged  dun  (a  small  size  16)  does  a great 
job  of  bringing  trout  to  the  surface.  Trout 
feeding  on  Adoptiva  hold  in  a well-defined 
current  lane  that  carries  the  duns  down- 
stream, and  you'll  rarely  see  activity  very 
far  from  the  lane.  Almost  every  spring  I 
meet  the  Blue  Quill  hatch  on  a 100-yard 
long  pool  that's  almost  dead  calm  except 
for  a five-foot  wide  band  of  current  tum- 
bling over  streambed  rocks  along  one  edge. 
From  one  end  of  the  pool  to  the  other  trout 
splash  in  that  narrow  current  band,  snatch- 
ing the  duns  sailing  swiftly  by.  But  those 
that  float  past  my  casting  station  in  the 
calmer  water  seem  to  be  perfectly  safe. 

Available  from  well-stocked  sources, 
the  Blue  Quill  is  a size  16  quill-bodied  fly 
with  medium-blue  dun  hackle  and  tails 
and  a medium-grey  wing.  On  some  streams 
a size  18  may  be  necessary,  especially 
when  fishing  slower  currents.  The  body 
of  P.  Adoptiva  is  really  a rusty  hue,  so  a 
reddish-brown  quill  body  makes  the  best 
match.  If  you  tie  your  own.  keep  them 
sparse.  When  fishing  with  a friend  a few 
years  ago,  he  was  astonished  that  fish  would 
come  so  readily  to  something  that  looked 
like  little  more  than  a fuzzy  hook. 


Hendrickson  ( E . Subvaria) 

Like  the  Quill  Gordon,  Hendrickson 
hatches  are  not  as  plentiful  as  they  once 
were,  victims  apparently  of  poorer  water 


quality.  Vince  Marinaro's  descriptions  of 
the  Hendrickson  hatches  on  the  Yellow 
Breeches  barely  40  years  ago  fill  me  w ith 
a deep  sense  of  loss  w hen  I compare  them 
to  what  I see  today.  Much  damage  has 
been  done  in  40  years,  but  on  streams  that 
have  been  spared,  hatches  of  this  impor- 
tant mayfly  still  come  off  and  are  most 
certainly  worth  finding. 

As  mentioned  earlier.  Hendrickson  and 
Blue  Quill  duns  can  be  present  at  the  same 
time,  but  if  the  larger  Hendrickson  is 
hatching  in  decent  numbers,  the  trout  will 
favor  it.  Emergence  takes  place  during  the 
afternoon,  peaking  some  time  between  2 
and  4 p.m..  and  there  is  no  mistaking  the 
presence  of  Subvaria.  In  cold  water,  these 
bite-size  insects  float  for  a considerable 
distance,  their  upright  wings  vividly  out- 
lined against  any  skylight  reflecting  from 
the  surface,  until  they  suddenly  disappear, 
replaced  by  a very  modest  rise  ring. 

The  standard  artificials  for  Subvaria  are 
the  Hendrickson  and  the  Red  Quill,  both 
staple  inventor)'  for  fly  shops.  These  pat- 
terns are  usually  offered  in  size  12.  but  if 
you  tie  your  own,  try  a thorax  style  on  a 
size  14  hook,  a fly  that  works  well  for  me 
when  the  Hendrickson  hatch  is  on. 

Spinners 

One  aspect  of  early  season  dry  fly  fish- 
ing that  I find  better  than  it  is  later  on  is 
the  fishing  to  spinners.  I like  it  better  be- 
cause the  early  season  spinners  often  ap- 
pear in  the  daylight  hours,  whereas  later 
on,  after  early  May,  spinner  falls  are  mostly 
nighttime  happenings,  definitely  not  my 
cup  of  tea. 

On  cool,  bright  days.  Quill  Gordon 
spinners  may  appear  from  noon  until 
midaftemoon.  Adoptiva  spinners  often 
swarm  shortly  after  the  last  of  the  after- 
noon's duns  float  away  around  4 p.m. 
Hendrickson  spinners  may  appear  over- 
head as  early  as  4 or  5 p.m.  Thus,  be  alert 
for  daytime  spinner  falls.  And  when  the 
duns  quit  hatching  in  the  afternoon,  stick 
around  for  an  hour  or  so  to  see  what  hap- 
pens. Perhaps  you'll  be  pleasantly  sur- 
prised. 

The  insect  species  discussed  here  are 
most  common  for  Pennsylvania,  but  the 
situation  could  be  different  on  any  given 
stream.  For  instance,  the  Grannom.  an  early 
caddis  hatch,  can  produce  dry  fly  action 
on  many  streams.  So  take  the  time  to  im- 
prove your  chances  by  learning  which  in- 
sects inhabit  the  streams  you'll  be  fishing, 
and  where  the  busiest  hatches  occur.  Then, 
when  the  calendar  and  the  weather  say  it's 
time  to  go  looking,  you'll  be  ready.  [p7] 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


The  Suckers  Are  Here 

by  David  R.  Thompson 


As  winter  wanes,  some  people  watch  ex- 
pectantly for  Canada  geese  to  cruise  over- 
head on  their  way  north.  To  watchers,  the 
geese  spell  spring.  I,  too,  await  the  honk- 
ers; but  the  sign  of  spring  that  demands 
more  than  a brief  sky  watch  is  a run  of 
white  suckers  in  murky  water. 

The  suckers’  arrival  sends  me  scurrying 
for  lishing  tackle  and  a can  of  earthworms. 
I wouldn't  miss  the  suckers’  annual  debut 
any  more  than  the  geese  would  miss  out 
on  spring.  While  the  geese  go  a-courting, 

1 perform  my  own  ancient  rites  along  a 
swollen  stream  where  suckers  lie. 

In  early  spring  I’m  sometimes  the  first 
fisherman  in  my  rural  area  to  document 
the  suckers’  migration  or  run  up  tributaries 
to  spawn.  They  almost  always  appear,  un- 
seen of  course  in  the  muddy  water,  after 
rain  raises  the  rivers  and  streams  and  gives 
the  water  a dirty  appearance  that  only  a 
sucker  fisherman  could  appreciate.  Sucker 
tishermen  seldom  complain  about  high, 
dirty  water  because  those  conditions  spark 
sucker  runs,  as  do  biological  forces  caus- 
ing roe  to  ripen. 

Returning  home  one  late  afternoon 
last  winter  not  many  weeks  before  the 
opening  of  trout  season,  I looked  down- 
stream on  Shermans  Creek.  Perry  County, 
as  I drove  across  the  steel  bridge.  I spied 
a fisherman  at  my  favorite  sucker  hole.  I 
made  a U-turn  and  sped  over  to  find  out 
if  the  suckers  had  shown  up  yet.  Sure 
enough,  he  had  two  on  his  stringer  and 
by  the  close  attention  he  paid  to  his  two 
rods  I knew  that  he’d  been  getting 
more  bites. 


1 didn’t  wait  for  or  expect  an  invitation 
to  get  my  tackle  and  return  to  fish  along- 
side him.  Sucker  fishermen  are  accus- 
tomed to  company.  In  fact,  sometimes 
the  company  makes  sucker  fishing  so 
much  fun. 

I used  to  regard  sucker  fishing  as  an 
undemanding  primer  for  the  more  popular 
trout  fishing  that  follows,  believing  that 
trout  were  harder  to  trick  into  biting  and 
also  harder  to  hook.  I discovered,  how- 
ever, that  suckers  are  not  simpler  to  catch 
and  often  require  a more  precise  bait 
placement  than  trout. 

Tackle 

I use  the  same  ultralight  spinner  rod  for 
suckers  that  I use  for  trout.  The  4-pound- 
test  monofilament  line  that  I use  in  trout 
fishing  is  a bit  light  for  suckers.  Although 
I've  used  4-pound  line  and  caught  fish,  I 
prefer  6-pound  monofilament.  I know  a 
lot  of  sucker  fishermen  who  use  up  to  10- 
pound-test  line.  Indeed,  some  anglers  even 
fish  for  suckers  with  black  nylon  line  that 
for  all  I know  is  strong  enough  to  hang 
a deer. 

The  rods  commonly  used  for  suckers 
are  medium-weight  spinning  poles.  I use 
an  open-face  reel,  but  many  anglers  opt 
for  the  closed-face  type  whose  line  is  less 
likely  to  tangle  and  require  tedious  hand 
work  in  the  cold  air.  Some  fishermen  use 
baitcasting  rods  and  reels,  but  instead  of 
overhead  casting  they  simply  cast  their 
baits  underhand  into  the  current  only  a few 
yards  away.  Whatever  tackle  you  use  for 
suckers,  it  needn't  be  fancy  or  expensive. 
But  it  must  be  in  good  working  order. 


Rigs 

A sucker’s  mouth  is  not  large,  so  a size 
6 or  8 hook  is  about  right.  Many  skillful 
sucker  fishermen  use  two  hooks,  attaching 
each  to  a separate  dropper  line.  A half- 
ounce to  one-ounce  sinker  is  tied  to  the 
end  of  the  primary  line  to  keep  baits  on 
the  stream,  lake  or  river  bottom  if  the  cur- 
rent is  swift. 

While  1 recommend  rigging  a line  that 
way  for  suckers,  I usually  fish  just  one 
size  6 hook  and  pinch  one,  two  or  three 
large  splitshot  to  the  line  about  10  inches 
above  the  hook.  The  disadvantage  to  my 
method,  however,  is  that  I offer  the  fish 
just  one  bait  instead  of  two.  That,  I’ve 
concluded,  results  in  my  getting  fewer  bites. 
So  for  more  action,  use  two  hooks  and  be 
prepared  occasionally  to  catch  two  suckers 
at  once.  I have  seen  it  happen  more  than 
a few  times  during  peak  sucker  runs. 

My  garden  gets  a workout  soon  after 
the  snow  disappears.  It's  not  because  I’m 
an  avid  gardener  but  because  the  garden 
is  full  of  earthworms.  I dig  them  for  sucker 
bait  and  nothing  is  better.  I fish  with  large 
earthworms  and  small  nightcrawlers, 
hooking  a bait  twice — once  through  the 
collar  and  again  about  two-thirds  down  the 
body.  When  a sucker  finds  the  bait,  the 
fish  may  try  to  sneak  it  oil  the  hook  by 
barely  biting,  so  watch  carefully  for  line 
movement. 

Some  suckers,  on  the  other  hand,  bite 
vigorously.  1 like  to  see  my  rod  tip  jump 
up  and  down  when  an  aggressive  sucker 
hits  as  the  rod  rests  in  the  "V”  of  a stick. 
Hooking  suckers  consistently  takes  a knack 
that  requires  experience.  The  key  is  sens- 
ing when  the  sucker  has  bothered  the  boat 
long  enough  to  get  it  in  its  mouth.  Most 
suckers,  by  the  way,  are  hooked  in  the 
mouth,  as  opposed  to  their  swallowing  the 
hook  as  trout  often  do. 

It  is  good  to  see  young  fellows  and  gals 
sucker  fishing,  but  to  be  honest,  most  of 
them  aren’t  shown  the  tricks  of  the  trade. 
It  seems  that  sucker  fishing  is  more  the 
domain  of  old-timers — fellows  who  re- 
member when  suckers  ran  by  the  hundreds 
up  meadow  runs  and  were  gigged  or  fished 
for  at  night  by  lantern  light.  Even  today, 
sucker  anglers  fish  after  dark,  using  lan- 
terns. It's  a great  way  to  spend  an  evening 
and  sometimes  at  midnight  the  lanterns 
still  glow  along  stream  and  river  banks. 
It  happens  as  soon  as  the  suckers  arrive, 
and  when  they  do  I want  to  be  among  the 
first  to  know. 


28  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— Rose  Boegli 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


The  Law  and  \bu 

by  Kerry  Messerle 

Q.  On  the  opening  day  of  trout  season 
last  year,  I observed  another  angler  catch 
a trout  by  the  tail  with  a spinning  lure. 
Still  another  fisherman  warned  the  first 
that  he  had  to  release  the  fish  because 
it  was  foul-hooked.  What  is  a foul  hook 
and  why  can’t  you  use  one? 

A.  There  really  isn't  any  such  thing  as  a 
foul  hook.  Instead,  it  describes  an  action 
or  manner  in  which  a fish  is  hooked.  In 
the  “sport”  of  fishing,  it  is  accepted  and 
expected  that  the  quarry  shall  be  enticed 
or  tricked  into  “biting”  the  bait  or  lure. 
Any  fish,  including  those  accidentally 
caught  by  being  hooked  in  a body  part 
other  than  the  mouth,  is  deemed  to  be 
“foul-hooked”  and  thus  caught  contrary 
to  the  rules  of  fair  chase.  The  person  ac- 
cidentally so  hooking  a fish  is  difficult  to 
distinguish  between  those  doing  so  delib- 
erately, so  all  fish  thus  caught  must  be 
released  immediately.  In  addition  to  being 
unlawful  to  keep  a “foul-hooked”  fish,  it 
is  also  unlawful  to  possess  a snagging  hook 
while  in  the  act  of  fishing. 

A snagging  hook  is  a fishing  device  that 
is  designed  or  modified  to  facilitate  the 
snagging  of  fish.  It  is  either  of  the  follow- 
ing: (1)  A hook  with  other  than  a single 
barb  that  is  weighted  on  the  shank  at  any 
point  below  the  eye  of  the  hook  and  above 
the  barbs  thereof;  or  (2)  a hook  that  is 
otherwise  designed  or  modified  in  any  other 
way  so  as  to  make  the  snagging  of  fish 
more  likely  when  it  is  used  than  snagging 
would  be  if  a normal  hook  or  fishing  de- 
vice were  used. 

Q.  Settle  a bet  for  us.  A friend  says  that 
once  you  catch  a fish,  it  is  part  of  your 
limit.  I say  you  may  catch  as  many  as 
you  want  as  long  as  you  don’t  take  more 
than  the  limit  home  with  you.  Who 
is  right? 

A.  You  both  are.  Once  you  catch  a fish 
and  do  not  immediately  return  it  unharmed 
to  the  waters  from  which  it  was  taken,  it 
is  considered  part  of  your  possession  limit. 
The  key  words  are  immediately,  un- 
harmed and  waters  from  which  it  was  taken. 
Catch  as  many  as  you  want,  but  return 
them  in  such  a manner  and  you  are  acting 
lawfully. 

However,  any  fish  placed  in  a fish  bag, 
creel,  live  well  or  on  a stringer  counts 


toward  your  daily  limit  regardless  of  how 
long  you  keep  it  and  even  if  you  release 
it  later  alive.  Thus,  “sizing  fish”  keep 
ing  small  ones  and  releasing  them  later 
when  you  catch  a larger  one,  will  put  you 
over  the  limit  as  soon  as  you  have  done 
this  to  one  more  fish  than  the  total  allowed 
for  that  species. 

Q.  Approved  trout  waters — what  are 
they  and  when  can  I fish  them? 

A.  Approved  trout  waters  are  listed  in  the 
back  of  your  Summary  of  Fishing  Regu- 
lations and  Laws  alphabetically  by  county. 
These  waters  are  either  stocked  or  ap- 
proved for  trout  stocking  in  their  entirety 
or  a section  thereof.  In  the  case  of  a partial 
approval,  this  section  will  be  listed  with 
upper  and  lower  boundaries. 

Now  that  you  know  what  they  are.  it 
is  easier  to  tell  you  when  you  can't  fish 
in  them.  All  fishing,  taking  of  bait  in- 
cluded. is  prohibited  from  March  first  until 
8 a.m.  on  the  opening  day  of  the  regular 
trout  season  in  April.  The  only  change 
during  the  "open”  season  is  that  the  creel 
limit  is  reduced  to  3 from  the  day  after 
Labor  Day  until  the  last  day  of  February, 
the  following  year.  This  period  is  called 
the  “extended  trout  season.” 

Q.  A popular  stream  near  my  home 
now  has  a fly-fishing-only  area,  which 
encompasses  my  favorite  hole.  If  I stay 
out  of  the  marked  area  and  upstream 
from  it,  can  I still  drift  my  bait  down 
into  it? 

A.  No.  The  important  thing  to  remember 
is  that  it  is  unlawful  to  fish  in  a specially 
regulated  area  with  other  than  approved 
equipment.  You  are  still  fishing  in  the  area 
by  drifting  your  bait  into  it  even  though 
you  are  physically  standing  outside  the 
area. 

Q.  Can  I catch  bait  in  trout  streams? 

A.  Yes.  However,  in  approved  trout  waters 
(listed  in  the  back  of  your  fishing  summary 
book)  all  fishing,  including  taking  bait,  is 
prohibited  during  the  period  March  I until 
8 a.m.  on  the  opening  day  of  the  regular 
trout  season  in  April.  Additionally,  it  is 
unlawful  to  take  bait  from  specially  reg- 
ulated areas  such  as  fly-fishing-only,  catch 
and  release,  trophy  trout,  etc.  Consult 
your  summary  book  for  a listing  of  these 
waters  and  watch  for  advisory  posters  at 
streamside. 


Q.  Several  guys  I work  and  fish  with 
tell  me  I can’t  chum  trout  with  corn.  Is 
this  true?  I’d  hate  to  think  so  because 
it  works  well  on  stocked  trout. 

A.  Chumming  with  com  is  permitted. 

Q.  Can  I stay  overnight  on  a Fish  Com- 
mission access  area  in  my  camper?  It 
is  self-contained  and  I like  to  start  fish- 
ing early. 

A.  Camping  on  Commission-owned  prop- 
erty is  prohibited. 

Q.  I’ve  just  been  introduced  to  sucker 
spearing.  I know  that  several  of  the  many 
trout  streams  I’ve  fished  hold  good 
suckers  in  the  spring.  Can  I spear  in 
these  waters? 

A.  Spearing  suckers  is  unlawful.  The  use 
of  spears  is  prohibited  in  all  approved  trout 
waters  as  listed  in  the  back  of  your  fishing 
summary  book. 

Q.  Each  year  while  scouting  spring  trout 
fishing  waters.  I’ve  discovered  unlaw- 
fully set  lines  in  the  stream.  Now  that 
the  local  enforcement  officer’s  phone 
number  is  no  longer  listed,  who  can  I 
report  these  violations  to? 

A.  On  page  54  of  your  1988  summary  are 
the  addresses  and  phone  numbers  of  each 
of  our  six  regional  law  enforcement  offices 
and  a listing  of  the  counties  serviced  by 
each.  Call  the  appropriate  one. 

Q.  I’m  not  a fisherman,  but  I always 
have  my  grandchildren  at  our  lakeside 
cottage  for  the  opening  day  of  trout  sea- 
son. How  much  am  I able  to  assist  them 
before  I’m  required  to  have  a license? 
A.  The  spirit  of  the  law  encourages  every  - 
one, including  youngsters,  to  go  fishing. 
And  as  in  any  sport,  a little  assistance  is 
always  helpful.  The  letter  of  the  law  re- 
quires anyone  doing  any  fishing  to  have 
a license.  With  this  in  mind,  a good  rule 
of  thumb  is  to  be  helpful  as  long  as  the 
children  show  some  interest.  When  an 
“assisting  person”  finds  himself  con- 
fronted by  an  officer  asking  for  a license, 
it’s  usually  because  the  novice  became 
bored  and  has  quit  fishing  and  the  one- 
time helper  is  now  doing  all  the  fishing. 


Kerry  Messerle  is  manager  of  the  North- 
east Law  Enforcement  Region. 

April  1981 S’  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Governor  Casey  Names 
William  J.  Sabatose  to 
Commission 

Last  December  Governor  Robert  P. 
Casey  appointed  William  J.  Sabatose  to 
an  8-year  term  as  a Pennsylvania  fish  com- 
missioner. Sabatose,  from  Brockport,  Elk 
County,  serves  District  3,  which  includes 
McKean.  Potter,  Cameron,  Elk,  Clinton, 


Jefferson,  Clearfield  and  Centre  counties. 

Commissioner  Sabatose  is  an  associate 
engineer  at  Research  and  Engineering  of 
Brockway,  Inc.,  in  Brockway.  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  is  an  avid  fly  fisherman  and 
conservationist.  Commissioner  Sabatose 
has  served  as  president  of  the  Toby  Creek 
Watershed  Association  for  the  past  2 1 years. 
He  has  received  the  Conservationist  of  the 
Year  Award  and  was  named  Watershed 
Man  of  the  Year  by  the  Pennsylvania  Soil 


and  Watershed  Districts. 

Commissioner  Sabatose  believes  that 
anglers  should  limit  their  catches,  and  he 
is  concerned  with  water  quality  in  the  Key- 
stone State.  One  of  his  foremost  concerns 
is  the  effects  of  acid  rain.  He  has  been 
involved  in  many  efforts  to  improve  the 
quality  of  water  adversely  affected  by  acid 
precipitation. 

Sabatose  replaces  Mark  Faulkner,  whose 
Commission  term  expired. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


o 


Waders  aren’t  only  for  wading.  When  you 
fish  in  the  rain,  wear  chest  or  hip  waders. 
Along  with  a good  rain  |acket  you’ll  be 
totally  waterproofed.  Warning:  It’s  not 
recommended  that  waders  be  worn  while 
boating. 


Quality  monofilament  may  be  more 
expensive  than  the  lesser-known  brands  but 
it’s  worth  the  investment  considering  the 

number  of  hours  spent  on  a stream 
or  lake  in  a year’s  time. 


Most  line  tangle  problems  with  spinning 
gear  are  caused  by  spools  with  too  much 
line.  When  changing  line  fill  the  spool  to  the 
beginning  of  the  curve  on  the  spool's  lip, 
but  not  over  it. 


If  you’re  a catch-and-release  angler, 
remember  to  liberate  just-caught  trout  in 
slack  water,  not  back  into  the  current  to 
which  you  may  have  hooked  it. 


Just  because  a spinner  doesn’t  produce 
when  cast  into  a stream  it  doesn't  mean  the 
trout  aren’t  interested.  Depending  on  the 
speed  of  the  current  and  the  retrieve,  the 
action  of  different  spinners  will  vary.  If  one 
size  and  pattern  doesn’t  work,  try  another 
before  switching  to  other  baits. 


When  you  think  crappies,  think  small.  In 
spring,  school  crappies  are  suckers  for 
diminutive  spinners,  jigs  and  live  minnows. 


The  standard  large,  red- white  shad  dart 
has  always  been  effective,  but  serious 
Delaware  River  anglers  have  gone  light. 
Small,  tt2-  to  g-ounce  darts  are  becoming 
increasingly  popular  and  productive. 


Early-run  shad  stay  deep,  swimming  in 
the  channels.  April’s  river  flow  is  typically 
heavy  and  sufficient  weight  must  be  added 
(about  18  inches  above  the  dart)  to  get  the 
lure  down. 

Remember  that  leak  in  your  waders  that 
needed  repairing  last  fall?  It  can  be  hard  to 
locate.  Stick  a trouble  light,  like  the  one  a 
mechanic  uses,  down  each  leg.  In  total 
darkness  the  hole  should  be  easy  to  find. 

Strips  cut  from  toothpaste  tubes  make 
great  wrap-around  sinkers. 

Protect  your  outboard  motor  during 
storage  with  an  old  sheet  or  cloth  sack. 
Don’t  use  plastic  because  it  holds  in 
moisture,  which  encourages  rust  and  may 
cause  starting  problems. 

Twist  several  double-page  sheets  of 
newspaper  and  insert  them  in  your  rod  case 
along  with  the  poles.  During  transport, 
especially  on  airplanes,  the  rods  will  not 
rattle  and  damage  can  be  minimized. 


illustration— George  Lavanish 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state's  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R Miller,  P.E., 
Executive  Director 
Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 


BUREAU  OE 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J Mayhew,  Acting  Director 
Allison  J Mayhew,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stnne.  Fishing  Licenses 


BUREAU  OE  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Vacant.  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker.  Acting  Chief. 
Division  of  Trout  Production 
Shyrl  Hood.  Division  of  Warmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 


BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
8 14-359-51  (HI 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Acting  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Sen  ices 
K Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O Banker,  P E.,  Chief. 
Division  of  Property  Services 


BUREAU  OE  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons,  Acting  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 

Cheryl  Kimerline,  Special  Programs 
Coordinator 

Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 


BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
led  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


30  April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Biggest  Fish  of  the  Year  Awards  for  1987  were  presented  last  February'  8 at  the 
Eastern  Sports  and  Outdoor  Show  in  Harrisburg.  Award  winners  are  (first  row, 
left  to  right):  Ronald  J.  Rusch,  Pittsburgh  (I -pound,  2-ounce  state  record  white 
perch):  Gary  Moser,  Butler  ( 6-pound , 2 -ounce  smallmouth  bass);  Donald 
Shafer,  Nazareth  (8-pound,  14-ounce  American  shad);  James  Hope,  Meadville 
( 4-pound , 8-ounce  brook  trout);  John  Berta,  Trafford  (19-pound,  I -ounce 
northern  pike);  Jeffrey  Pollitt,  Allentown  (9-powul,  14-ounce  rainbow  trout). 
Second  row,  left  to  right,  are:  James  Grab,  Pittsburgh  (8-pound,  10-ounce 
palomino  trout);  Richard  Nitkiewicz,  Pittsburgh  (8-pound,  10-ounce  largemouth 
bass);  James  Black,  Newport  (4-pound,  12-ounce  sucker );  Thomas  Steiger, 
Allison  Park  (3-pound,  15-ounce  state  record  sauger);  Duane  Koons,  Annville 
(39-pound,  8-ounce  carp);  Thomas  Jones,  Meadville  (15-pound,  8-ounce  walleye 
and  a 3-pound,  8-ounce  state  record  white  bass);  Robert  Snyder,  Coatesville 
(2-pound  bluegill);  Paid  Cook,  Jr.,  Huntingdon  (38-pound,  13-ounce  state 
record  striped  bass);  Curt  Weber,  Quakertown  (2-pound,  I -ounce  yellow  perch); 
Paul  Swanger,  Elizabethtown  (21 -pound,  8-ounce  channel  catfish);  and  Medy 
Bell,  Duncannon  (2-pound,  4-ounce  rock  bass). 


Environmental  Quality 
Index 

The  First  Environmental  Quality  Index, 
prepared  by  the  Pennsylvania  Wildlife 
Federation,  is  a barometer  of  the  condition 
of  Pennsylvania’s  air,  energy,  forests,  land 
use,  recreation,  soils,  water  and  wildlife. 
The  index  was  based  on  personal  inter- 
views, research  and  government  reports, 
and  the  judgments  were  determined  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Wildlife  Federation.  For 
complete  details  on  obtaining  this  16-page 
document,  contact:  Pennsylvania  Wildlife 
Federation,  2426  North  Second  Street, 
Harrisburg,  PA  17110. 

Correction 

The  photo  on  page  18  of  the  February 
1988  Angler  that  was  identified  as  a Broad- 
headed skink  is  actually  a picture  of  a 
Coal  skink. 


Conservation 
Leadership  Schools 

Students  aged  15-18  might  be  interested 
in  the  Conservation  Leadership  Schools, 
offered  in  three  two- week  sessions  by  Penn 
State  University.  The  curriculum  includes 
forestry,  environmental  issues,  natural 
history  and  more.  Classes  are  usually  held 
in  the  fields,  forests  and  streams  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Session  1 is  July  3-16.  Session 
II  is  July  17-30,  and  an  advanced  school 
is  scheduled  for  August  4-13. 

For  complete  details,  contact:  Tammy 
Crissman,  Penn  State  Continuing  Educa- 
tion, 109  Grange  Building,  University  Park, 
PA  16802.  The  phone  number  is  814-865- 
3443. 


Picture  Yourself 
in 

Pennsylvania  M 
Angler 


Just  fill  out  this  form  and  send  it  with  a photo 
of  you  and  your  catch. 


Name 


Address 


City  State  ZIP 


Account  # (top  line  of  magazine  mailing  label) 


Date  of  catch  and  release 


Location 


Fishing  method 


Remarks 


Please  send  only  photos  of  fish  that  were 
released  unharmed.  A color  slide  or  a black- 
and-white  or  color  print  no  smaller  than  3V2 
x 5 is  best.  The  Fish  Commission  offers  no 
payment  for  these  pictures.  If  you  wish  your 
photograph  to  be  returned,  please  include 
a stamped,  self-addressed  envelope  when 
you  send  us  your  picture.  Send  to:  “Caught 
and  Released,”  Pennsylvania  Angler,  PO. 
Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 

Please  photocopy  this  form  if  you  don't  wish 
to  cut  your  magazine,  or  with  your  photo- 
graph include  the  information  on  a separate 
sheet. 


April  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


mm 

rf'&t 

if&\ 

May  1988/$!.  50 


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— - 


STATE  LIBH 
DOCUMENTS 


jARY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA 
SECTION 


MAY  0 3 19C 


Pennsylvania 


ANG 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Straight 

Talk 


Ethical  Behavior  Provides 
Enjoyable  Fishing  and 
Boating 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


The  1988  fishing  and  boating  season  is  under  way  and  the  Commission 
encourages  everyone  to  take  time  to  enjoy  Pennsylvania’s  fishing  and  boating 
opportunities.  We  ask  boaters  and  anglers  to  be  considerate  and  act 
responsibly  so  that  others  can  also  enjoy  the  Commonwealth's  waterways. 

Fishing  and  boating  continue  to  grow  in  popularity.  Participation  by  all  age 
groups  places  great  pressure  on  available  resources  and  there  is  a continuous 
need  for  ethical  outdoor  behavior. 

The  growing  number  of  violations  that  are  observed  are  cause  for  our 
increasing  concern.  These  practices  include  vandalism,  alcohol  abuse, 
landowner  abuse,  trespass,  littering,  violation  of  angling  laws  and  regulations, 
abuse  of  nontargeted  fish  species,  improper  handling  of  fish  caught,  waste  of 
harvested  catch,  improper  vehicle  parking,  reckless  and  negligent  watercraft 
operation,  and  just  plain  discourtesy  to  fellow  participants. 

In  1987,  Fish  Commission  waterways  conservation  officers  traveled  over 
1 .4  million  miles  in  performance  of  their  enforcement  duties.  They  issued 
more  than  30,000  warnings  to  fishermen  and  boaters  and  prosecuted  7,073 
fish  law  violations  and  2,821  boat  law  violations. 

Surprisingly,  the  most  frequent  violation  was  for  fishing  without  a license. 
Nearly  2,400  prosecutions  were  made  for  this  most  blatant,  disrespectful 
behavior.  Those  fishermen,  age  16  or  over,  who  do  not  purchase  a license, 
are  not  only  cheating  the  law-abiding  participants  who  pay  for  protection  and 
management  of  the  aquatic  resources,  but  they  deprive  themselves  of  the 
knowledge  required  to  make  fishing  and  boating  safe  and  enjoyable  for 
themselves  and  for  others. 

Other  major  violations  included  littering  (1,257),  violation  of  season,  size 
or  creel  limit  regulations  (499),  failure  to  have  personal  flotation  devices 
onboard  (1,192),  misuse  of  property  and  waters  (330),  fishing  without  proper 
display  of  license  (243),  exceeding  minimum  wake  speed  (184)  and  a wide 
variety  of  other  violations.  These  violation  statistics  are  of  great  concern  to 
the  Commission  because  they  indicate  a high  level  of  abuses  by  the  angling 
and  boating  public.  These  abuses  need  not  take  place  if  each  user  acts 
responsibly,  treats  the  resource  and  other  users  with  respect,  and  makes  a 
conscious  effort  to  leam  and  obey  fishing  and  boating  regulations  and  laws. 

Please  take  time  to  read  and  study  the  small  summary  books  provided  with 
your  fishing  license  and  boat  registration.  Most  of  your  questions  are 
answered  in  these  summaries  and  an  understanding  of  this  information  will 
enable  you  to  relax  completely  and  enjoy  your  outing. 

These  books  include  the  telephone  numbers  of  our  regional  and  central 
offices  where  information  can  be  obtained  by  telephone.  Recording  devices 
are  in  operation  to  permit  later  response  if  your  call  is  placed  when  offices  are 
not  staffed.  The  Commission  also  has  a 24-hour,  toll-free  pollution  hotline 
(1-800-854-7365).  Other  avenues  for  reporting  pollutions  are  to  call  local 
police  or  emergency  services,  the  Pennsylvania  Emergency  Management 
Agency  (717-783-8150),  or  the  Department  of  Environmental  Resources 
pollution  emergency  number  (717-787-4343). 

The  Commission’s  waterways  conservation  officers  and  other  staff  members 
are  available  to  help  make  your  outing  enjoyable,  but  they  are  also  ever 
vigilant  for  those  users  who  abuse  the  laws  and  show  disrespect  for  the  rights 
of  others.  You  can  help  by  promoting  ethical  behavior  and  through  the 
regional  office  alerting  your  waterways  conservation  officer  to  obvious 
violations. 

The  key  to  a safe,  enjoyable  outing  is  simple.  Understand  and  obey  the 
fishing  and  boating  laws  and  regulations,  conduct  yourself  in  an  ethical 
manner,  and  show  respect  for  the  resource  and  for  other  people. 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Chairman 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 


May  1988  Vol.  57  No.  5 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


How  I Graduated  from  a 12-Footer  to  a 16-Footer 

by  Sam  Everett 

This  confession  could  open  your  eyes  to  two  different  boating 
worlds  4 

Pennsylvania’s  Wild  Trout  Resources:  Here  Today,  Better 
Tomorrow  by  Richard  D.  Larson 

Why  bother  managing  and  protecting  the  Commonwealth’s  wild  trout 


resource?  7 

Fly  Rod  Bluegills  by  Jim  Gronaw 

You  can  nail  big  'gills  with  a fly  rod  and  some  know-how  10 

A Spent  Microcaddis  by  Chauncy  K.  Lively 
This  fly  is  a winner  when  the  tiny  hatch  floats  by  spent  in  the  surface 
film  12 

High  -Water  and  Low-Water  Shad  Action  by  Dennis  Scholl 
Don't  let  extreme  water  conditions  dim  your  delight  on  the 
Delaware  14 

Stream  Smallmouth  in  May  by  Nick  Sisley 

Now  is  prime  time  for  stream  smallmouth  bass,  but  remember  to 
release  most  of  these  spawning  fish  16 

Curse  of  the  Carp  by  Jim  Mize 

Some  anglers  would  do  anything  to  catch  fish  other  than  carp  20 


Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Kids  Page!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Fish  Facts  is  the  name  of  this  game  22 

Philadelphia  Fisheries:  Muskies,  Stripers,  Bass  and  Trout 

by  Mike  Kaufmann 

The  Commission  area  fisheries  manager  for  southeast  Pennsylvania 
reveals  some  Philadelphia  secrets  23 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street.  Harris- 
burg, PA.  17109.'  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted 
without  the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion. Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6:  single  copies  are  51 .50  each. 
Second  class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA  POSTMASTER: 
Send  address  changes  to  : Angler  Circulation.  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For 
subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow 
six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The 
Editor.  Pennsylvania  Angler,  P.O.  Box  1673.  Harrisburg,  PA  17105- 
1673.  Editorial  queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must 
be  accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material 
accepted  tor  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  tor  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  transit. 
The  authors'  views,  ideas,  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


Pennsylvania’s  Walleye  Hotspots  by  Chris  Dolnack 

Cash  in  on  some  great  walleye  action,  but  don't  leave  home  without 
this  where-to-go  information  25 

The  covers 

This  month’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Joe  Workosky,  shows  Mary 
Ann  Workosky  with  a nice  crappie,  a tine  example  of  the  fast  panfish 
action  in  Pennsylvania  this  month.  For  different  ideas  on  panfishing,  turn 
to  page  10.  Action  for  stream  smallies  can  also  be  good  now  . so  to 
improve  your  luck,  check  out  page  16. 

This  month’s  back  cover  shows  Bureau  of  Education  and  Information 
director  Cheryl  Riley  working  a section  of  the  Yellow  Breeches,  at  Boiling 
Springs. 


A boater  confesses 

How  I Graduated  from  a 

12-Footer  to  a 


I fished  for  nearly  18  years  in  a 12-foot 
aluminum  boat  with  a 9.9hp  engine.  I car- 
topped  it  for  a while,  and  then  for  many 
years  1 trailered  it.  A few  years  ago  a 
friend  and  I had  some  terrific  big-water 
fishing  action  in  several  trips  during  one 
summer.  His  boat  is  an  18-footer  with  a 
75hp  engine. 

For  many  years  I had  dreamed  of  own- 
ing a larger  boat,  but  the  good  fishing 
during  that  one  summer  was  the  clincher 


that  helped  me  make  up  my  mind. 

I had  to  have  a rig  that  I could  use  for 
big-water  fishing.  I wanted  a boat  that  I 
could  trailer  with  a mid-sized  tow  vehicle. 
1 finally  put  my  hard-earned  money  into 
a 1 6-foot  aluminum  center  console  with  a 
65hp  engine  and  a galvanized  trailer. 

This  rig  is  terrific,  and  1 couldn’t  be 
more  pleased.  But  do  you  think  that  mak- 
ing the  transition  from  the  1 2-footer  to  the 
16-footer  was  easy?  The  only  big  deal  was 


the  money  involved,  right? 

Hardly.  I wrestled  with  options,  lis- 
tened to  an  incredible  amount  of  advice 
and  debated  with  myself  over  what  I 
wanted,  what  I needed  and  what  was  ac- 
tually in  my  price  range.  Little  did  1 know 
that  I had  entered  a whole  new  boating 
ball  game. 

If  you’re  considering  moving  up  from 
a small  rig  to  one  that  can  take  you  farther 
out  and  around,  going  from  a 12-footer 
even  just  to  a 16-footer  is  very  compli- 
cated. Those  four  additional  feet  create 
some  amazing  difficulties,  and  weighty 
decisions  crop  up  that  you'll  have  to  make, 
if  all  the  options  and  considerations  don’t 
drive  you  nuts  first. 

So  far,  I don't  think  I’ve  gone  nuts,  and 
with  the  following  information  maybe  you 
won’t  have  to  go  through  what  I went 


I wrestled  with  options,  listened  to  an  incredible 
amount  of  advice  and  debated  with  myself  over 
what  I wanted,  what  I needed  and  what  was 

actually  in  my  price  range. 


4 May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


through.  If  you  do.  you'll  at  least  be  warned. 

My  strategy  was  to  divide  and  conquer. 
I kept  foremost  in  mind  the  goal  of  the 
kind  of  fishing  I planned  to  do  with  the 
new  rig  I selected.  Then  I considered  op- 
tions and  made  decisions  one  at  a time. 

Insurance 

Take  insurance.  My  12-foot  boat,  mo- 
tor and  trailer  were  covered  by  my  home- 
owners  policy,  but  my  new  rig  cost  con- 
siderably more.  I wasn't  about  to  risk 
insurance  that  wouldn't  be  adequate. 

First  I looked  into  my  homeowners  pol- 
icy. Then  I compared  the  policies  and  prices 
of  other  carriers.  The  key  to  my  getting 
the  most  insurance  for  the  least  amount  of 
money  was  to  shop  around  thoroughly. 

Two  viable  insurance  options  surfaced. 
I wasn't  able  to  add  full  replacement  value 


insurance  on  the  rig  as  part  of  my  home- 
owners  policy.  I chose  a separate  full  re- 
placement value  insurance  policy,  which 
I obtained  at  a good  price  by  shopping 
around. 

Full  replacement  value  insurance  is  more 
expensive  than  other  kinds,  and  even  though 
I got  a good  price  for  this  kind  of  insur- 
ance, I'd  rather  plunk  down  a few  extra 
bucks  every  year  for  insurance  that  fully 
meets  my  needs,  than  try  to  save  a buck 
with  coverage  for  which  I may  someday 
be  sorry'. 

My  coverage  also  includes  liabil- 
ity, medical  expenses,  physical  damage, 
trailer  physical  damage,  and  unattached 
equipment. 

The  lesson  I learned  here  is  to  inves- 
tigate insurance  thoroughly  for  a new — 
and  expensive — rig,  and  when  you  don’t 


understand  a provision,  press  for  a clear 
explanation.  I got  all  the  policy  provisions 
I discussed  written  down  as  part  of  the 
policy.  I learned  never  to  buy  solely  on 
word  of  mouth. 

“If  you're  lucky,"  someone  told  me, 
“you'll  think  of  your  policy  only  when 
it’s  time  to  pay  the  premium  each  year." 
Still,  I realized  that  insurance  is  an  im- 
portant consideration  1 needed  to  settle  be- 
fore I drove  off  with  the  new  rig  for  the 
first  time. 

Electronics 

Electronics  was  the  next  overwhelming 
aspect  of  graduating  from  the  12-footer  to 
the  16-footer.  I’m  talking  about  some  kind 
of  sonar  unit,  a VHF  radio,  and  Loran. 
Throw  in  a compass,  too. 

I knew  I could  easily  spend  thousands 
of  dollars  on  electronics  for  my  new  boat. 
My  pocketbook,  the  kind  of  fishing  I 
planned  to  do,  w here  1 planned  to  use  the 
boat,  and  how  often  I planned  to  use  it 
were  my  main  considerations  in  selecting 
electronics. 

Another  gem  of  wisdom  I picked  up 
was  to  be  sure  to  consider  the  cost  of 
electronics  into  the  price  of  the  rig  so  that 
I wasn't  disappointed  when  my  wallet  was 
suddenly  empty  and  I didn't  have  all  1 
initially  planned  to  get. 

The  marine  dealer  from  whom  I bought 
the  rig  gave  me  a good  deal  on  electron- 
ics and  other  options.  That  possibility 
was  worth  checking  out  in  the  shopping- 
around  stage. 

As  for  the  initial  electronics  I selected 
for  my  new  boat.  I decided  on  a liquid 
crystal  display  depth  sounder,  a 50-chan- 
nel  VHF  radio  and  a compass.  In  my  case, 
these  items  were  essentials  for  the  kind  of 
fishing  I do  and  where  I do  it. 

I also  got  an  8-foot  antenna  of  6 dB 
gain,  which  is  standard  for  VHF  radios  on 
boats  meant  for  big  water. 

I could  have  chosen  a radio  w ith  fewer 
channels,  but  considering  that  I plan  to 
trailer  the  rig  to  a great  variety  of  places, 

1 wanted  to  make  sure  I receive  all  the 
channels  that  may  be  used  in  those  dif- 
ferent areas. 

I also  considered  the  cost  of  the  depth 
sounder  transducer  and  the  antenna  and  a 
mounting  bracket  because  the  depth  soun- 
der and  radio  didn't  include  them.  In  some 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


5 


cases,  the  cost  of  the  radio  includes  an 
antenna  and  a mount,  and  sometimes  the 
cost  of  a depth  sounder  includes  the  ex- 
pense of  a transducer  and  a mounting 
bracket.  1 was  sure  on  these  points  when 
1 got  prices. 

Also  jacking  up  the  cost  was  installation 
of  both  items  because  I didn't  do  that  my- 
self. Still,  my  dealer  pointed  out  the  make- 
ready  charges  when  we  figured  the  boat’s 
bottom  line  price. 

Safety  items 

When  1 realized  that  the  radio  was  an 
indispensable  safety  item,  I made  a list  of 
all  the  other  items  I’d  need  aboard  for 
safety — the  required  ones  and  those  1 knew 
I’d  want  anyhow. 

When  it  comes  to  safety  items,  I wanted 
to  be  sure  1 knew  the  regulations  for  my 
new,  bigger  boat.  Boats  over  16  feet  have 
different  safety  requirements  than  smaller 
boats,  which  I did  not  consider  before.  I 
wanted  to  get  these  straight  and  outfit  my 
boat  accordingly. 

1 found  these  safety  regulations  in  the 
Summary’  of  Boating  Regulations  1988  that 
I got  when  I registered  my  boat.  I also 
obtained  a copy  of  Federal  Requirements 
for  Recreational  Boats,  a Coast  Guard  pub- 
lication available  for  free  from  the  nearest 
Coast  Guard  Auxiliary  office.  The  U.S. 
Coast  Guard  Auxiliary  is  listed  under  the 
heading  “Coast  Guard”  in  the  blue  pages 
of  the  phone  book  under  “U.S.  Gov- 
ernment. ” 

Additional  safety  items  cost  money,  but 
there’s  no  cutting  comers  on  safety.  I rea- 
soned that  there’s  no  sense  sluffing  off  the 
dangers  I could  create  or  the  fines  I could 
incur.  New  rig  or  not,  I knew  I was  re- 
sponsible for  the  safety  of  everyone  aboard 
my  boat. 

Batteries 

I had  to  think  about  a battery,  too,  which 
I didn't  take  along  on  my  12-footer.  1 
debated  long  and  hard  between  using  one 
battery  or  two  batteries.  After  letting 
everybody  throw  in  his  two  cents,  I de- 
cided to  go  with  one  marine  battery,  a 
power  pack  that  has  both  deep  cycle  and 
cranking  capabilities. 

For  my  purposes,  one  battery  is  fine, 
but  if  I were  planning  to  run  an  electric 
motor  with  the  gear  I already  have  laid 
out  in  the  boat,  or  if  I eventually  add  an 
electric  motor.  I’d  use  two  batteries — a 
cranking  battery  for  starting  the  engine  and 
a marine  deep-cycle  battery  for  extended 
use  of  the  electric  motor,  depth  sounder, 
and  radio. 

6 May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


The  good  advice  I got 
from  friends  helped  me 
sidestep  most  long- 
lasting  headaches. 


Gas  tanks 

I also  thought  about  gas  tanks.  1 toted 
a 3-gallon  tank  with  my  12-footer.  I hardly 
ever  gave  fuel  a second  thought  until  I let 
that  extra  4 feet  of  new  boat  enter  my  life. 
Then  I wrestled  with  the  ideas  of  whether 
I should  install  permanent  tanks  in  the  boat, 
how  many  gas  tanks  I should  carry,  and 
what  size  tanks  I would  need. 

Once  more  I listened  to  a lot  of  advice. 
I opted  for  running  with  two  metal  6-gal- 
lon tanks.  This  aspect  worked  out  well 
because  my  9.9hp  engine  and  the  new 
65hp  engine  are  the  same  brand.  My  new 
boat's  transom  is  wide  enough  to  use  the 
9.9hp  as  a get-home  or  as  a trolling  motor. 
At  last  I gained  an  option  that  didn’t  cost 
me  an  extra  bundle! 

I also  learned  that  when  you  buy  an 
engine  of  about  40  or  50hp  or  more,  above 
that  size  you  will  likely  get  no  prop  with 
the  engine.  In  my  case,  the  dealer  set  me 
up  with  an  appropriate  prop.  When  I bought 
the  motor,  he  clued  me  in  to  the  stipulation 
that  the  prop  came  separately. 

I bought  the  65hp  engine  without  power 
trim  and  tilt,  just  about  the  only  decision 
I regret.  I have  no  problems  with  lifting 
the  engine,  but  this  power  option  would 
have  added  a new  world  of  convenience. 

I had  to  consider  smaller  essential  items, 
too.  For  me,  these  musts  included  an  an- 
chor, boat  fenders  and  mooring  lines,  for 
example. 

Like  buying  electronics,  I had  to  hold 
back  in  buying  smaller  boating  items  of 


preference  and  convenience.  I reminded 
myself  that  a bigger  boat  is  actually  an 
investment  on  which  I could  build.  In  other 
words,  the  first  year  1 bought  the  rig  I’d 
have  to  do  without  some  items  that  I could 
acquire  later  on. 

For  instance,  farther  down  the  road,  I 
may  consider  Loran,  trim  tabs,  a surface 
temperature  gauge,  downriggers,  an  elec- 
tric boat  winch,  and  other  options  that  nght 
now  I just  can’t  afford. 

Financing 

Financing  is  a major  part  of  stepping 
up  in  the  boat  world,  so  to  make  my  money 
go  the  farthest,  I first  shopped  around  like 
crazy,  and  that  meant  checking  out  every 
source  for  loans.  I started  with  the  bank 
with  which  I have  the  most  accounts,  and 
then  I checked  out  other  banks  and  savings 
and  loans.  The  boat  dealer  also  offered 
financing,  and  he  suggested  other  sources. 

Next,  I looked  into  the  credit  union  where 
I work  and  with  organizations  of  which 
I'm  a member.  I discovered  that  credit 
unions  often  feature  attractive  interest  rates 
on  loans,  but  if  you’re  not  a member  of 
the  credit  union  yet,  there  may  be  a rule 
in  some  credit  unions  that  requires  mem- 
bership for  a few  months  before  you're 
eligible  for  a loan.  That  meant  that  if  I 
were  going  to  get  a credit  union  loan,  I 
needed  to  join  and  put  in  my  time. 

In  addition,  I put  in  my  back  pocket  the 
idea  that  some  banks,  credit  unions  and 
savings  and  loan  associations  require  that 
you  have  an  account  with  them  before  you 
are  eligible  for  a loan. 

All  in  all,  you  may  think  that  stepping 
up  in  the  boat  world  is  an  insurmountable 
hassle  to  be  avoided.  But  the  good  advice 
I got  from  friends,  boating  equipment  sup- 
pliers, and  dealers  helped  me  sidestep  most 
long-lasting  headaches. 

That’s  another  practical  idea  that  saved 
me  time,  money  and  aggravation.  I got 
lots  of  advice  from  dealers  and  I confirmed 
what  they  said  with  the  ideas  of  other  deal- 
ers. Most  dealers  are  very  knowledgeable 
and  they’ll  steer  you  in  the  right  direction. 
Dealers  don't  acquire  new  customers  and 
keep  old  ones  by  offering  people  bad  ad- 
vice, so  as  I shopped  around,  I asked  deal- 
ers lots  of  questions  because  I found  their 
answers  tremendously  useful. 

If  you  plan  your  upward  move  in  the 
world  of  boat  size  and  look  realistically  at 
your  pocketbook,  you  can  make  the  move 
as  successfully  as  I did.  I got  the  most 
boat  and  options  for  my  money,  and  cou- 
pled with  successful  fishing  trips,  that  adds 
up  to  satisfaction  that’s  hard  to  beat. 


illustration— Linda  Steiner 


Division  of  Fisheries  Management 


Pennsylvania’s  Wild  Trout  Resources: 

Here  Today,  Better  Tomorrow 

by  Richard  D.  Lorson 


When  1 think  of  wild  trout  in  Penn- 
sylvania, my  thoughts  range  from 
the  tug  of  the  feisty  native  brook 
trout  caught  using  worms  in  a Lycoming 
County  headwater  stream  to  catching  my 
first  trout  on  a dry  fly,  an  1 1-inch  brown 
trout  from  a catch-and-release  project  in 
Mifflin  County.  Then  there’s  fishing  in 
October  for  wild  rainbow  trout  in  a tum- 
bling stream  in  picturesque  Venango 
County. 

I can  only  imagine  the  thrill  of  landing 
a 2 1 -inch  plus  wild  brown  trout  using  flies, 
spinners  or  bait,  but  I know  that  such  fish 
exist  and  that  many  good  anglers,  or  just 
plain  lucky  anglers,  catch  them.  These  kinds 
of  experiences  are  ones  that  all  anglers 
today  and  in  the  future  should  at  least  have 
the  opportunity  to  encounter.  For  this  rea- 
son, fish  managers  realize  the  importance 
of  managing  for  and  protecting  the  wild 
trout  resource  of  this  state. 


Back  in  the  early  1980s  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Fish  Commission  spearheaded  the 
design  and  implementation  of  a resource- 
based  trout  management  program.  Many 
readers  will  recall  that  the  transition  brought 
with  it  a large  population  of  skeptics  and 
opponents.  Even  staunch  supporters  re- 
sisted. This  doubt  was  understandable  for 
such  a major  change  from  the  long-held 
philosophy  of  “more  and  bigger”  trout. 
A massive  public  information  effort  took 
place  explaining  the  upcoming  manage- 
ment changes.  The  second  half  of  the  1980s 
has  been  dedicated  to  biological  and  social 
evaluations  of  the  many  programs  of  Op- 
eration FUTURE. 

Modem  trout  management  under  Op- 
eration FUTURE  consists  of  several  stages. 
Several  important  steps  have  been  com- 
pleted: 1)  inventory  of  the  resource,  2) 
developing  statewide  strategic  plans,  pro- 
grams and  objectives,  3)  detailing  re- 


source-based management  to  Pennsylva- 
nia anglers,  and  4)  implementation  of  the 
total  program. 

An  important  aspect  continues — eval- 
uation of  the  various  management  pro- 
grams. We  in  fisheries  management  are 
active  in  the  biological  phase  of  the  eval- 
uation. A social  evaluation  will  follow  in 
the  form  of  attitude  and  opinion  surveys, 
as  well  as  angler  use  and  harvest  studies. 
Yes,  we  do  want  to  know  and  consider 
what  the  anglers  think  of  trout  manage- 
ment in  the  1980s,  but  we  wanted  them 
to  experience  several  years  under  a totally 
new  approach  to  Pennsylvania  trout  man- 
agement. 

Wild  trout 

The  Wild  Trout  Program  encompasses 
about  five  percent  of  the  total  stream  sec- 
tions in  our  stream  inventory'  data  base. 
These  sections  involve  107  streams  in  36 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


counties  with  a total  length  of  388  miles. 
We  know  there  are  many  others  that  have 
not  been  formally  surveyed.  These  streams 
are  considered  the  “last  of  the  best”  be- 
cause they  can  sustain  a hshable  popula- 
tion without  stocking.  In  other  words, 
spawning  takes  place,  eggs  hatch  and  young 
trout  survive  to  grow  and  eventually  re- 
place those  lost  to  natural  causes  and 
anglers. 


There  is  nothing  magical  about  desig- 
nating a stream  for  wild  trout  manage- 
ment. A stream  electrofishing  survey  is 
conducted  and  trout  population  abundance 
is  determined.  To  make  the  cut,  abun- 
dance of  wild  fish  must  exceed  36  pounds 
per  acre  for  brown  trout  or  brown/brook 
trout  mixed  and  27  pounds  per  acre  for 
brook  trout.  These  figures  are  estimates  of 
the  total  weight  of  trout  in  a surface  acre 
of  each  stream’s  water. 

Also,  brown  and  brook  trout  less  than 
six  inches  must  exceed  0. 1 pounds  per 
acre.  That  is,  natural  reproduction  must 


be  present.  Wild  rainbow  trout  less  than 
six  inches  must  exceed  two  pounds  per 
acre  to  be  considered  for  wild  trout  man- 
agement. Detailed  program  information 
appeared  in  the  1982  Pennsylvania  Angler 
articles  “Wild  Trout  Management”  Parts 
I,  II  and  III,  authored  by  Bureau  of  Fish- 
eries Chief  Delano  R.  Graff. 

A diversity  of  management  options  for 
the  wild  trout  program  is  designed  to  pro- 
vide something  for  everyone  spanning  the 
arts  of  fishing  with  various  imitations  as 
well  as  natural  baits.  These  program  op- 
tions included  wild  trout  waters,  catch  and 


8 May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Division  of  Fisheries  Management 


release,  limestone  springs,  fly  fishing  only, 
trophy  trout,  wilderness  trout  and  natural 
yield.  Statewide  conventional  regulations 
and  an  array  of  restrictive  harvest  regu- 
lations exist  across  these  options. 

Preserving  habitat 

The  major  objective  of  wild  trout  man- 
agement is  to  preserve  the  exceptional 
habitat  and  trout  populations.  This  ap- 
proach is  the  keystone  of  our  program. 
The  wild  trout  population  will  not  persist 
without  directed  management  of  the 
resource. 


The  major  objective  of  wild  trout 
management  is  to  present  the 
exceptional  habitat  and  trout 
populations. 


One  facet  of  modem  trout  management 
is  aimed  at  protecting  wild  populations 
from  the  negative  effects  of  stocking 
hatchery  trout.  One  negative  effect  is  the 
potential  overharvest  due  to  attraction  of 
anglers.  It  is  well-known  that  the  number 
of  anglers  fishing  a stream  is  closely  re- 
lated to  the  number  of  fish  stocked.  Ex- 
tensive studies  have  provided  useful  in- 
sight into  the  competition  between  wild 
and  hatchery  trout.  Stocking  can  create 
problems  for  trout  in  overcrowding,  ex- 
treme social  stress  that  results  in  move- 
ment, death  from  exhaustion  and  deple- 
tion of  materials  needed  for  energy  from 
the  body.  The  list  continues  with  reduction 
in  stream  food  levels  and  displacement  of 
wild  trout  from  preferred  feeding  stations. 

The  interaction  also  works  conversely 
on  the  hatchery  trout.  They  are  found  to 
move  more  frequently,  use  less  energy- 
efficient  feeding  stations,  and  can  be  more 
aggressive  than  wild  trout  because  of  their 
larger  size. 

So  what  has  happened  to  wild  trout  pop- 
ulations where  stocking  of  hatchery  trout 
was  terminated?  How  is  the  trout  popu- 
lation evaluated  Trout  population  abun- 
dance criteria  are  a key  management  tool. 
That  is,  a stream  electrofishing  survey  is 
conducted  where  all  fish  are  measured  and 
weighed,  and  we  use  a formula  to  estimate 
the  total  trout  population  in  that  stream. 
Data  collected  before  1983  serves  as  a 
comparison  for  the  follow-up  survey.  The 
objective  is  to  maintain  the  abundance  of 
wild  trout  at  or  above  that  of  the  previous 
surveys. 

A few  examples  can  illustrate  this  strat- 
egy. A section  of  wild  trout  water  in  Potter 
County  was  stocked  before  1983.  The  es- 
timated brown  trout  population  in  1978 
was  43  pounds  per  acre.  Estimates  for 
1983  and  1987,  both  after  cessation  of 
stocking,  were  68  and  63  pounds  per  acre, 
a 68  percent  increase.  Another  encour- 
aging aspect  is  that  a large  chunk  of  the 
increase  occurred  for  fish  12  inches  and 
larger. 

Brookies  and  biomass 

Even  stocking  a small  number  of  hatch- 


ery trout  may  influence  a wild  bnx)k  trout 
population.  A Union  County  stream  was 
stocked  until  the  1985  season.  Brook  trout 
biomass  in  1976  and  1982  was  15  and  22 
pounds  per  acre.  The  1986  estimated  bio- 
mass was  26  pounds  per  acre,  only  the 
second  year  after  stocking  was  terminated. 
This  response  parallels  the  tendency  of  the 
vulnerable  brook  trout  to  respond  favor- 
ably to  reduction  in  angling  pressure. 
Graphs  accompany  this  article  to  illustrate 
the  numbers  of  trout  involved  with  these 
changes  in  biomass. 

The  study  data  and  the  majority  of  the 
program  evaluation  data  indicate  some  im- 
portant points  about  wild  trout  popula- 
tions. Angling  pressure  and  ultimately  an- 
gler harvest  in  response  to  stocking  hatchery 
trout  serves  to  hold  a wild  population  be- 
low its  natural  productive  capability.  That 
is,  a stream  with  a naturally  reproducing 
population  can  maintain  or  even  provide 
a better  fishable  population  after  angling 
pressure  is  reduced  by  eliminating  stock- 
ing. It  simply  means  that  more  trout  are 
available  at  a size  that  is  larger  than  the 
average  9|-inch  hatchery  trout. 

Also,  an  improved  wild  population  will 
occur  without  restrictive  harvest  regula- 
tions. In  other  words,  once  stocking  is 
removed,  the  population  is  sufficiently 
protected  in  most  cases  using  statewide 
conventional  regulations  (eight  trout  per 
day,  seven-inch  minimum  size). 

What  does  all  this  wild  trout  stuff  mean 
to  the  average  Pennsylvania  angler?  Elec- 
trofishing data  show  that  in  nearly  every 
case,  wild  trout  numbers  are  at  or  above 
pre-1983  levels  without  the  negative  in- 
fluences of  stocked  trout. 

Fewer  trout  are  seen  in  streams  of  the 
wild  trout  program  and  they  are  harder  to 
catch.  Wild  trout  are  not  for  everyone,  and 
they  are  for  some  people  but  not  all  the 
time.  I choose  to  take  my  young  sons  to 
a stocked  trout  water  at  least  to  have  a 
better  expectation  of  catching  trout  for  their 
enjoyment.  I enjoy  fishing  for  wild  trout 
with  flies,  spinners  or  natural  bait,  but  1 
catch  only  a few  and  admit  I'm  not  good 
at  it.  I have  aquaintances,  however,  who 
fish  only  for  wild  brown  trout  and  catch 
them  consistently.  When  one  of  the  wary, 
wild  trout  falls  prey  to  your  offering,  it  is 
something  to  admire  and  maybe  it’s  even 
worthy  of  “recycling”  to  be  admired  again 
another  day.  [77] 

Richard  D.  Lorson  is  the  Commission  Area 
8 area  fisheries  manager. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


9 


Fly  Rod  Bluegills 


by  ]im  Gronaw 

The  frequent  disturbances  that  dimpled  the 
pond  surface  could  mean  only  one  thing — 
feeding  bluegills!  False  casting  for  extra 
distance  and  easing  up  along  the  shoreline, 
I shot  a small  sponge-rubber  spider  toward 
the  activity.  A few  strips  of  line  was  all 
it  took.  A hefty  surface  boil  engulfed  my 
offering  and  the  subsequent  surges  of  a 
bull  bluegill  followed.  I had  no  choice  but 
to  play  this  fish  out  patiently.  My  leader 
tippet  tested  only  2\  pounds.  Experience 
had  taught  me  that  horsing  bruiser  ’gills 
on  such  light  line  would  likely  result  in  a 
breakoff.  Cautiously  I eased  the  over- 
grown panfish  into  the  palm  of  my  hand 
where  I could  lift  him  from  the  water.  The 
purple-hued  male  bluegill  measured  from 
my  index  finger  past  my  watch  band  and 
would  easily  weigh  a pound. 

I did  not  catch  this  ’gill  in  the  midst  of 
the  hectic  spawning  period  when  these  fish 
are  vulnerable  and  easy  to  catch.  Instead, 
the  action  occurred  weeks  after  the  spawn 
during  heatwave  conditions  that  locked 


daytime  highs  in  the  mid-90s.  Yes,  tanker 
'gills  are  available  to  the  fly  rodder  long 
after  spring.  I think  that  fly  fishing  is  the 
best  method  for  post-spawn  bluegills  and 
throughout  the  summer  months.  The 
splashdown  of  a jig  would  likely  have 
spooked  fish  so  shallow.  Besides,  fly  fish- 
ing to  me  is  just  more  fun. 

Tackle 

You  don't  need  much  to  cash  in  on  fly 
rod  ’gilling.  An  ideal  outfit  would  be  an 
8-  to  8|-foot  graphite  rod  with  4-  or  5- 
weight  line,  matched  with  a single-action 
reel  that  balances  comfortably  to  your 
preference.  I like  to  use  a weight-forward 
floating  line  because  most  of  the  feeding 
activity  is  on  or  near  the  surface  and  the 
weight  up  front  helps  add  that  little  extra 
casting  distance — something  you  may  need 
when  sneaking  up  on  skittish  ’gills. 

Commercially  made  knotless  tapered 
leaders  that  test  at  2\  pounds  (4  x ) or  4 
pounds  (2  x ) and  measure  from  1\  to  9 
feet  long  will  serve  in  just  about  any  sit- 
uation you  may  encounter.  You  don't  need 


a big  selection  of  flies,  either.  However, 
your  arsenal  should  contain  a variety  of 
imitations  such  as  wooly  worms,  ants,  bees, 
sponge  spiders  and  small  cork  bugs.  Hook 
sizes  should  range  from  10  to  14. 

You'll  find  that  bluegills  aren't  picky 
about  exacting  duplications,  and  at  times 
they  will  strike  a number  of  offerings  with 
equal  enthusiasm.  However,  a sloppy, 
water-slapping  presentation  definitely  turns 
off  shallow-water  insect-feeding  bluegills 
in  a hurry.  A decent,  accurate  cast  is  more 
important  than  “matching  the  hatch.” 

Among  my  favorite  flies  are  small 
sponge-rubber  spiders  in  size  12.  Those 
with  tiny  rubber  legs  in  black  or  green  are 
especially  potent  on  my  favorite  waters. 
Although  they  sink  slowly,  they  can  still 
be  fished  effectively  on  a floating  line. 
Another  dynamite  offering  is  the  black  ant 
pattern  in  sizes  12,  14  and  even  16.  Fish- 
ing these  terrestrial  patterns  not  only  scores 
big  on  summer  'gills,  but  it  keeps  you 
sharp  on  deliveries  and  hook-setting  skills 
so  vital  on  the  upcoming  late-summer  trout 
fishing  with  these  same  patterns. 


10  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Gronaw 


When  to  go 

Fly  rodding  for  bluegills  is  especially 
suited  for  post-spawn  periods  when  bigger 
specimens  vacate  the  shallows  during 
midday  in  preference  for  cooler,  deeper 
waters.  For  this  reason,  morning  and  eve- 
ning not  only  provide  the  most  insect  ac- 
tivity, and  consequently  the  heaviest  sur- 
face feeding,  but  they  provide  you  with 
the  most  comfortable  temperatures  to  fish 
in  extremely  hot  summer  weather.  During 
these  cooler,  low-light  periods,  big  'gills 
often  cruise  in  very  shallow  water,  some- 
times only  a foot  deep  and  just  off  the 
bank,  in  search  of  terrestrial  insects  that 
have  fallen  to  the  water.  Fishing  at  this 
time  with  the  proper  gear,  fly  rod  'gilling 
can  be  one  of  the  most  enjoyable  forms 
of  summer  angling,  despite  the  heatstroke 
conditions  of  local  reservoirs  and  larger 
rivers. 

During  these  dusk  or  dawn  bluegill  out- 
ings, it  pays  to  have  a quality  insect  re- 
pellent handy.  Any  repellent  that  contains 
at  least  25  percent  DEET  (N-diethyl-to- 
luamide)  will  usually  suffice  during  mos- 
quito or  deer  fly  uprisings.  Cutter,  Deep 
Woods  OFF,  and  Repel  are  all  excellent 
products  to  make  this  brand  of  panfishing 
more  comfortable. 

Mowed-bank  trick 

Many  of  the  ponds  and  smaller  lakes  1 
fish  for  ’gills  are  neatly  mowed  on  a reg- 
ular basis  throughout  the  summer  by  pri- 
vate owners,  grounds  keepers  or  mainte- 
nance personnel.  The  grass  is  often  cut 
short  right  up  close  to  the  bank,  in  areas 
where  tanker  ’gills  feed  during  the  low- 
light  hours.  When  this  happens,  the  fly 
rodder  can  cash  in  on  some  incredibly  fast- 
paced  angling. 

Bluegills  are  opportunistic  creatures  of 
habit,  so  big  ’gills  take  advantage  of  any 
disturbance  that  puts  a high  number  of 
terrestrial  insects  in  their  feeding  areas. 
When  grassy  banks  are  mowed,  a multi- 
tude of  insects  land  in  the  water.  Even  if 
this  occurs  during  midday  heat,  it  can  trig- 
ger some  of  the  best  fly  rod  panfishing  of 
the  entire  year.  Usually  at  this  time,  ant, 
spider  and  small  hopper  imitations  score 
big  on  slabs  as  they  most  accurately  re- 
semble the  insects  that  have  been  water- 
bound.  And  most  of  your  casts  will  be  30 
feet  or  less  and  just  a foot  or  two  off  the 
bank — certainly  within  the  skills  of  any- 
one who  uses  the  long  rod  for  trout. 

This  year,  enjoy  fly  fishing  all  summer 
long — with  big  ’gills  as  your  quarry. . 


1 987  Bluegill  Anglers  Award  Catches 


In  1987,  53  bluegill  catches  earned  senior  and  junior  Anglers  Awards.  A 
bluegill  of  i-pound  qualifies  for  a senior  award.  A ’gill  of  '.-pound  qualifies  for  a 
junior  award.  Here  are  the  number  of  catches  for  each  month  of  1987:  January. 

1;  February,  1;  March,  1;  April,  5;  May,  10;  June,  9;  July,  1 1:  August.  6; 
September,  5;  October,  3;  November,  0;  December,  1. 

Anglers  used  a variety  of  baits  and  lures  to  fool  these  big  bluegills.  Worms 
took  30,  minnows  caught  6,  meal  worms  fooled  4 and  waxworms  got  2. 
Doughballs  took  2 and  maggots  caught  one.  A spinner  took  4,  a fly  caught  one, 
and  unspecified  lures  accounted  for  2. 

Anglers  caught  their  big  slabsides  in  35  waterways  in  26  Pennsylvania 
counties.  Here  by  county  are  the  locations  of  those  catches.  Numbers  in 
parentheses  after  a waterway  name  are  the  number  of  award-winning  catches 
made  from  that  waterway.  Only  one  award-winning  catch  was  made  in  other 
waterways. 


Armstrong  County:  Keystone  Lake 
Beaver  County:  public  pond 
Berks  County:  Ontelaunee  Lake  (4), 
Willow  Creek 

Bradford  County:  Twin  Pond 
Bucks  County:  Warren  Lake 
Cambria  County:  Glendale  Lake 
Carbon  County:  Lehigh  Canal 
Chester  County:  Marsh  Creek  (2) 
Cumberland  County:  public  pond 
Dauphin  County:  Conewago  Creek, 
farm  pond  (3),  Middletown 
Reservoir,  Swatara  Creek 
Delaware  County:  Cedar  Grove 
Pond 

Erie  County:  Eaton  Reservoir  (2), 
Lake  Erie  (2) 

Lancaster  County:  Susquehanna 
River 


Lehigh  County:  Hosensack  Creek 
Lycoming  County:  Rose  Valley 
Lake  (2) 

Mercer  County:  Lake  Wilhelm 
Monroe  County:  Goldsboro  Lake 
Montgomery  County:  Schuylkill 
River 

Perry  County:  Little  Buffalo  Lake 
Pike  County:  Pecks  Pond  (5),  Lake 
Minisink  (2),  Shohola  Lake 
Somerset  County:  Paradise  Lake 
Susquehanna  County:  Bruno’s  Pond 
Wayne  County:  White  Oak  Pond 
Westmoreland  County:  Keystone 
Lake 

Wyoming  County:  Lake  Winola 
York  County:  Lake  Marburg  (5), 
York  County  Parks,  public  pond 


Gronaw  s Bluegill  Fillets 


Bluegills  that  run  5 to  one  pound  (8  to 
10  inches  in  length)  are  big  enough  to 
fillet.  One  of  my  favorite  recipes  is  a home- 
spun  version  with  a few  added  ingredients. 
You’ll  need  one  cup  of  flour,  1 tablespoon 
of  Old  Bay  Sea  Food  Seasoning  (or  similar 
product),  one  tablespoon  of  Jane’s  Crazy 
Mixed-up  Salt  and  i tablespoon  of  Mrs. 
Dash  Meat  Flavoring. 

Mix  these  dry  ingredients  in  a bowl 
thoroughly.  Beat  2 large  eggs  to  a smooth 
consistency  in  another  bowl.  After  patting 
the  fillets  dry,  dip  them  first  in  the  egg 
and  then  in  the  flour  mix.  Be  sure  to  coat 
the  fillets  thoroughly  with  the  flour  mix. 
Then  lay  the  fillets  in  a skillet  heated  with 
vegetable  oil  at  375  degrees  and  fry  until 
golden  light  brown.  Flip  the  fillets,  and 
the  whole  frying  process  takes  only  5 min- 
utes per  panful. — JG 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


A Spent  Microcaddis 

by  Chauncy  K.  Lively 
photos  by  the  author 


The  challenge  of  fishing  tiny  dry  flies  to 
larger-than-average  trout  has  always  been 
a highlight  of  my  summer  fishing.  There 
are  generally  many  opportunities.  Baetis 
mayflies  emerge  sporadically  during  sum- 
mer and  their  appearance  is  not  always 
predictable.  The  little  brassy-bodied  spin- 
ners of  Pseudocloeon  furnish  interesting 
and  exacting  evening  fishing  on  many 
streams  and  their  occurrence  often  coin- 
cides with  the  emergence  of  midges. 

But  best-known  of  all  the  diminutive 
mayflies  is  the  Tricorythodes,  represented 
by  several  species  countrywide.  During 
the  summer  months  the  Tricorythodes  is 
an  early  morning  emerger  and  the  late- 
sleeping  angler  is  apt  to  miss  out  on  some 
fine  fishing.  On  the  other  hand,  the  early- 
riser  may  find  not  only  the  Tricorythodes 
but  other  minutiae  as  well. 

On  one  favorite  stream  a microcaddis 
hatch  often  precedes  the  Trie.  On  another 
there  are  frequently  swarms  of  the  tiny 
gnats  of  Hilara — the  Dance  Flies — and  all 
have  the  potential  to  produce  excellent 
fishing.  Sometimes  there  are  surprises,  too, 
as  I discovered  a couple  of  years  ago. 

It  was  a bright  mid-July  morning  and  I 
had  arrived  at  the  stream  somewhat  later 
than  1 had  intended.  As  I sat  on  the  tailgate 
assembling  my  gear  I could  see  Tricory- 
thodes duns  emerging  and  flying  off  to  the 


1  Clamp  a regular-shank  diy  fly  hook 
(size  20  to  24)  in  the  vise  and  tie  in 
white  6/0  prewaxed  thread  behind  the 
eye.  Wind  a few  turns  toward  the  bend 
and  apply  tacky  wax  to  a short  length  of 
thread  next  to  the  shank.  Apply  tan  fur 
or  sy  nthetic  to  the  waxed  thread  and 
rod  it  between  the  thumb  and  forefinger . 


2  Wind  the  thread  back  to  the  bend 
and  then  wind  the  fur-dubbed  thread 
toward  the  eye  to  form  a tapered  body. 


3  Cut  a sparse  bunch  of  hair  from  a 
bleached  deer  mask  and  even  the 


12 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


streamside  foliage.  1 walked  downstream 
along  the  bank  a short  distance  and  w!  'n 
I stepped  into  the  stream  1 noticed  that  e 
alders  were  just  crawling  with  pale  mi- 
crocaddises, indicating  a heavy  emer- 
gence had  occurred  before  I arrived.  But 
my  mind  was  on  the  anticipated  spinner 
fall  of  Tricorythodes  and  1 didn't  have 
long  to  wait.  Swarms  of  the  tiny  insects 
began  to  appear  against  the  sky,  their  glassy 
wings  sparkling  in  the  morning  sun.  Soon 
they  were  on  the  water  and  for  the  next 
two  hours  I had  as  much  fun  as  I had  a 
right  to  expect  in  a week’s  fishing.  Then, 
as  expected,  the  activity  began  tapering 
off  and  soon  all  was  quiet. 

It  had  been  a delightful  morning,  but 
the  adrenalin  was  still  flowing  strong  and 
I wasn’t  ready  to  quit  fishing.  I sat  down 
on  a tussock  of  grass  along  the  bank  and 
began  pawing  through  my  fly  box  to  find 
a terrestrial  pattern  that  I hoped  would 
move  some  additional  trout.  A few  min- 
utes later  I looked  to  find  the  flat  water 
dimpled  again  with  soft  rises.  Super! 

Sometimes,  after  the  main  fall  of  fe- 
male Tricorythodes  spinners  ends,  there  is 
a pause  after  which  male  spinners  descend 
to  the  water  and  trout  resume  feeding.  I 
was  confident  that  such  a secondary  rise 
was  occurring  and  accordingly  tied  on  a 
black-bodied  Trie  spinner.  But  after  a dozen 


4 Tie  in  the  hair  at  the  fore  end  of  the 
fur  body  with  four  or  five  firm  turns. 


fruitless  casts  my  assuredness  evaporated 
and  the  inevitable  guessing  game  began. 
Remembering  the  microcaddisflies  around 
the  alders,  I tried  a tiny  hairwing,  slipped- 
palmer  microcaddis  pattern.  It  didn't  work, 
either,  nor  did  a midge,  a gnat  or  a midge 
pupa. 

Finally,  at  the  risk  of  spooking  the  ris- 
ers— and  too  frustrated  to  care — I unlim- 
bered my  aquarium  net  and  waded  to  the 
lower  end  of  the  drift  line.  There,  looking 
down  directly  to  the  surface,  I finally  saw 
the  cause  of  the  renewed  feeding.  Micro- 
caddises— untold  numbers  of  them — were 
drifting  spent  in  a continuous  column  with 
wings  outstretched,  not  like  the  straight- 
out  spent  wings  of  mayfly  spinners,  but 
angled  back  at  45  degrees. 

My  overstuffed  fly  vest  is  loaded  with 
boxes  housing  hundreds  of  flies  in  a vast 
array  of  sizes,  shapes  and  colors.  But  I 
had  nothing  that  remotely  resembled  the 
little  beasts  the  trout  were  so  single-mind- 
edly  locked  into.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
extreme  examples  of  selectivity  1 had  ever 
encountered  and  1 wondered  if  this  same 
phenomenon  could  have  been  the  cause 
of  unexplained  feeding  activity  on  other 
occasions. 

In  any  case,  once  the  problem  was  iden- 
tified the  solution  was  easy  and  the  Spent 
Microcaddis  pattern  was  the  result.  That 


X 


6 Neatly  trim 
the  hair  butts 
on  a bevel  and 
apply  a drop  of 
lacquer  to  the 
exposed  butts. 
Wrap  over  the 
butts  and  whip- 
finish  the  thread 
behind  the  eye. 
Finally,  lacquer 
the  head. 


afternoon  I dressed  several  dozen  of  the 
new  pattern  and  to  cover  all  the  bases  1 
tied  it  in  sizes  20  to  24  and  in  both  light 
and  dark  versions. 

Three  days  later  the  post -Tricorythodes 
showing  of  spent  microcaddises  happened 
again,  but  this  time  it  was  a happy  oc- 
casion because  the  new  pattern  worked 
like  a charm.  I have  since  encountered 
spent  microcaddises  perhaps  a dozen  times 
and  in  each  instance  the  swept-back  pos- 
ture of  the  spent  wings  seemed  to  be  cru- 
cial to  success. 

The  Spent  Microcaddis  is  one  of  the 
easiest  of  all  small  patterns  to  dress,  con- 
sisting only  of  body  and  angled-back  spent 
wings.  To  date  I haven't  had  occasion  to 
use  the  dark  version  of  the  pattern  (dressed 
with  gray  fur  body  and  dark  hair  wings), 
but  there  are  several  microcaddis  species 
and  I expect  someday  to  encounter  the 
darker  naturals. 

These  diminutive  insects  are  difficult  to 
recognize  in  flight  because  they  could  pass 
for  midges  or  gnats.  When  in  doubt,  cap- 
ture a few  specimens  with  your  cap  or 
aquarium  net  and  once  verified,  observe 
if  they  are  riding  the  surface  as  emergers 
or  floating  spent  in  the  film.  If  the  latter, 
bend  on  a Spent  Microcaddis  and  enjoy 
some  of  the  most  challenging  small-fly 
fishing  imaginable.  r^~] 


5 Divide  the 
hair  behind 
the  tie-in 

windings  into  two 
equal  halves  and 
wind  between 
them  with  criss- 
cross turns  to  set 
each  wing  at  45 
degrees  to  the 
shank. 


F"X  «o. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


13 


High-water  and  Low-Water 


If  you  live  near  the  Delaware  River,  plan- 
ning an  outing  for  American  shad  shouldn't 
be  a problem.  Just  choose  a nice  day,  pack 
your  gear  in  your  car,  and  mend  your  way 
to  the  river.  What  could  be  easier? 

But  what  about  the  angler  who  lives  in 
Harrisburg,  or  Pittsburgh  or  Erie,  the  long- 
distance fisherman  who  can  schedule  just 
one  special  weekend  each  spring  to  tackle 
the  lightingest  gamelish  in  Pennsylvania 
waters?  What  happens  to  that  person  if 
he’s  confronted  by  an  overnight  rainstorm 
that  turns  the  Delaware  into  a murky  mess? 
Or  what  if  he  arrives  at  the  river  only  to 
find  it's  extremely  low  because  of  lack  of 
rainfall?  What  then?  Can  he  still  catch 
shad,  or  would  his  special  weekend  be- 
come a washout? 

If  you  happen  to  be  on  the  receiving 
end  of  that  type  of  nightmare  this  spring, 
take  heart  in  knowing  that  the  shad  don't 
pack  up  and  leave  the  Delaware  just  be- 
cause it  isn’t  flowing  the  way  you’d  like. 
They’re  still  around,  and  still  can  be  caught, 
although  you’re  going  to  have  to  change 
your  tactics  to  get  them. 


The  author  nailed  this  shad  near 
Portland  using  a 1116-ounce  dart 
with  one  small  split  shot.  The  action 
took  place  about  10  a.m. 


Remember  these  basic  rules  when  con- 
fronted by  extreme  water  conditions  and 
you'll  at  least  be  headed  in  the  right  di- 
rection: In  high  water,  fish  closer  to  shore. 
In  low  water,  move  toward  the  middle. 
When  the  river  is  flooding,  stay  home. 
That’s  as  basic  as  one  can  be.  Now  let’s 
get  definitive. 

Under  normal  river  conditions,  most  shad 
travel  upstream  in  the  river  channel,  the 
deepest  portion  of  the  river  and  the  area 
where  velocity  is  greatest.  Shad  are  at- 
tracted to  fast  water.  When  the  Delaware’s 
flow  is  too  great,  however,  when  two  or 
three  inches  of  rain  have  fallen  in  the  Del- 
aware Valley  and  it’s  been  channeled  to 
the  Delaware  River,  the  fish  tend  to  mi- 
grate much  closer  to  shore.  Sometimes 
they  almost  hug  the  shoreline  as  they  head 
up  river.  This  is  one  instance  when  fishing 
tactics  must  be  altered  to  meet  conditions. 

High  water 

I recall  one  outing  several  years  ago 
when  a friend  and  I caught  shad  by  tossing 
our  shad  darts  a mere  20  feet  from  the 
shoreline.  The  river  was  moving  swiftly 
and  the  fish  were  staying  out  of  the  main 
current  that  they  normally  would  have  been 
in,  holding  in  a small  eddy  that  offered 
relief  from  the  heavy  flow. 

It  must  have  been  a large  school  of  shad 
because  we  had  action  for  more  than  two 
hours.  And  even  though  it  was  raining  the 
entire  time,  we  didn't  care.  It  was  as  good 
a day  as  one  could  hope  to  experience. 

We  were  getting  strikes  or  hooking  a 
fish  on  nearly  every  cast,  so  we  had  time 
to  experiment.  We  decided  to  shorten  our 
casts,  and  finally  did  nothing  more  than 
cast  almost  straight  downstream,  hold  our 
rods  out  at  arm's  length  and  jig,  jig,  jig 
our  darts.  The  shad  were  there  wherever 
we  tried.  Our  jigging  method  resulted 
in  strikes  just  two  or  three  feet  off  the 
shoreline. 

This  situation  was  unusual,  but  I’ve  dis- 
covered that  shad  react  the  same  way 
whenever  the  river  rises  to  a point  that 
would  keep  most  anglers  at  home.  We 
weren't  foolhardy  and  didn't  take  chances. 
We  wore  chest  waders  but  never  went  in 
the  water  above  our  ankles.  We  didn't 
need  to;  the  shad  were  at  our  feet. 

Boat  action 

Boat  fishermen  can  also  enjoy  good 
fishing  when  the  Delaware  is  high,  pro- 


vided they  know  their  limitations  and  re- 
spect the  river.  There’s  no  need  to  tackle 
the  entire  Delaware  when  good  fishing  is 
usually  available  no  more  than  10  to  15 
yards  from  the  shoreline. 

A trip  to  Lackawaxen  one  mid-May 
weekend  a few  years  ago  was  put  in  jeop- 
ardy because  of  rains  that  transformed  a 
clear,  sublime  Delaware  into  a chocolately 
mess  that  rolled  along  a couple  of  feet 
higher  than  normal.  But  we  wound  up 
catching  a fair  amount  of  fish  simply  be- 
cause we  experimented. 

We  started  by  fishing  our  “regular” 
spot,  which  was  located  on  the  main  chan- 
nel about  30  yards  from  shore.  When  we 
failed  to  get  a strike  there,  we  moved  in- 
shore about  five  feet  at  a time  until  we 
began  catching  fish.  Then  we  anchored 
for  good. 

The  shad  had  moved  inshore  of  the  heavy 
flow  to  a section  of  the  river  that  afforded 
them  a good,  but  not  overbearing,  velocity 
of  water.  Coincidentally,  the  lane  we  fished 
contained  clear  water  flowing  out  of  the 
Lackawaxen  River,  which  had  already  be- 
gun to  clear  up  and  subside  while  the  Del- 
aware was  still  high  and  muddy. 

I’ve  run  into  that  same  situation  in  other 
areas  of  the  river  where  tributaries  enter. 
It  just  proves  that  given  a choice,  shad 
swim  in  clear  water  when  it's  available. 
They  might  not  enter  the  tributary,  but 
they'll  follow  its  flow  until  they  are  forced 
to  negotiate  the  Delaware  once  again.  That 
doesn't  mean  they  can’t  be  caught  in  muddy 
water.  They  can  and  are. 

Field  and  Stream  magazine  food  editor 
Sylvia  Bashline  proved  that  several  years 
ago  when  she  caught  four  nice  buck  shad 
from  the  river  at  Portland  in  water  that 
looked  like  coffee  mixed  with  cream.  She 
may  have  had  two  advantages,  though. 
She  used  a brightly  colored  fluorescent 
shad  dart,  the  most  visible  one  she  had, 
and  she  fished  in  a boat  anchored  close  to 
the  shore. 

Fishing  along  the  shoreline  when  the 
Delaware  is  high  is  a good  bet,  but  it’s 
not  the  only  one.  Shad  can  also  be  caught 
behind  islands  and  other  obstructions  where 
they  seek  momentary  shelter  from  the  heavy 
current. 

There  are  many  shad  fishermen  who 
have  enjoyed  great  days  while  fishing  be- 
hind islands  (small  and  large)  when  the 
river  is  up.  Sometimes  the  situation  can 
be  akin  to  fishing  in  a hatchery  if  you 


14  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Art  Michaels 


Joe  Workosky 


Shad  Action 


by  Dennis  Scholl 


happen  to  be  on  the  water  when  a large 
school  of  fish  arrives.  They  may  hold  be- 
hind the  island  for  an  hour,  or  maybe  just 
five  minutes,  but  while  they're  present, 
the  action  can  be  fantastic. 

Lure  weight 

One  other  item  to  remember  about  high- 
water  fishing  is  that  you  must  adjust  the 
weight  of  your  lure  according  to  the  flow 
of  water.  If  an  eighth-ounce  shad  dart 
worked  under  normal  conditions,  try  a 
quarter-ounce  model  in  higher  water.  You 
may  even  have  to  add  splitshot  to  your 
line  to  get  the  dart  to  the  proper  depth. 

Conversely,  when  the  river  is  very  low, 
use  the  lightest  dart  you  have  in  your  tac- 
kle box  and  no  extra  splitshot.  Experi- 
enced shad  fishermen  often  resort  to  m- 
ounce  darts  during  periods  of  low  water 
in  late  May  and  June.  Some  even  abstain 
from  using  darts  at  all  and  instead  switch 
to  brightly  colored  shad  flies  tied  with  just 
the  slightest  amount  of  lead. 

Low  water 

When  the  Delaware  is  low,  seek  out 
sections  that  offer  good  velocity.  Find  faster 
water  and  you  usually  find  the  channel, 
as  well  as  water  with  a high  oxygen  con- 
tent, which  is  important  to  shad  as  the 
season  progresses. 

I recall  another  trip  to  Lackawaxen  when 
the  river  was  so  low  that  I had  to  drag  my 
boat  through  some  sections  above  the  Zane 
Grey  Pool,  which  is  located  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  the  Delaware  and  Lackawaxen  riv- 
ers. The  afternoon  passed  without  as  much 
as  a slight  bump  on  either  of  my  lines.  I 
nearly  gave  up  and  returned  home. 

But  it  was  late  in  the  season,  the  fourth 
week  of  May,  and  I knew  things  would 
pick  up  toward  evening.  So  at  about  5 
p.m.,  I navigated  into  the  tail  waters  of  a 
pool  where  the  velocity  quickened,  and 
simply  sat  there  and  waited.  At  about  six 
o’clock,  one  of  my  rods — I was  “still- 
fishing” two  rods — took  a sharp  dip  to- 
ward the  water  and  the  first  shad  of  the 
day  was  on.  I hooked  several  more  before 
darkness  settled  in. 

What  happened  was  that  the  shad  were 
spawning,  and  during  spawning  season  they 
can  be  totally  uninterested  in  anything  you 
toss  their  way  during  the  daytime,  but  ready 
to  jump  at  anything  in  the  evening. 

No  matter  how  active  they  become,  you 
can't  expect  to  be  positioned  just  any- 


When the  Delaware  is  low,  seek  out 
sections  that  offer  good  velocity. 


where  and  catch  fish.  In  the  evening,  the 
shad  come  out  of  the  deep  pools  they  in- 
habit during  the  day  and  invade  the  shal- 
lows, swimming  in  water  that's  anywhere 
from  one-  to  six-feet  deep. 

They  are  in  search  of  sandy  bottoms 
where  the  water  velocity  is  approximately 
1|  to  2 feet  per  second,  a current  that's 
not  fast  yet  not  moving  along  at  a snail's 
pace,  either.  They  cruise  these  waters, 
sometimes  swimming  in  small  sub-chan- 


nels, until  they  begin  spawning  about  one- 
half  hour  after  darkness  falls.  They  aren't 
easy  to  catch  at  this  time,  and  usually  have 
to  be  enticed  by  a moving  dart  or  fly. 

But  don't  confuse  a shad's  abstinence 
during  spawning  with  its  propensity  to  strike 
under  abnormal  water  conditions.  They'll 
bite.  It's  just  up  to  you  to  find  out  where 
they  are. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


15 


16  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Nick  Sisley 


Stream 

Small  mouth 

in  May 

by  Nick  Sisley  ^ 

The  current  swept  deeply  and  swiftly  at  the  sharp  bend 
in  the  stream.  On  the  bank  with  the  steep  slope,  the 
dogwood  flowers  glistened  in  a dazzling  scene  of  white. 

The  rippling  water,  a tinge  off  color  because  of  a rain 
four  days  before,  shimmered  a silvery  gray  under  the 
wanning  rays  of  the  early  morning  sun.  A gent  with  a 
steel  rod  and  an  old  knuckle-buster  casting  reel  tumbled 
a live  minnow  down  through  that  creek  bend,  a perfect- 
looking lie  for  a big  smallmouth.  I stopped  on  the  bridge, 

50  yards  upstream,  to  see  how  he  fared  before  I started 
my  own  fishing  that  day. 

He  wore  a Tyrolean-style  hat.  His  jacket  looked  of 
wool,  a subtle  Scotch  plaid.  He  looked  up  just  as  1 put 
the  binoculars  on  him.  He  also  wore  a wool  shirt  and 
wool  tie.  “Dressed  to  kill,”  1 whispered  to  myself  out 
loud.  And  just  then  he  jerked  his  rod  tip  high.  But  there 
was  no  bend  in  the  tip  at  all.  I saw'  the  oath  of  a word 
formed  by  his  mouth,  but  it  was  quickly  replaced  by  a 
grin  as  he  reeled  in,  then  reached  into  the  submerged 
bait  bucket  hanging  from  his  belt.  He  pulled  out  another 
minnow,  affixed  it  to  his  hook  and  quickly  cast  back — 
above  one  of  the  best  bass  holes  on  the  creek.  He  waved 
quickly,  with  only  the  swoop  of  his  right  hand,  and  then 
went  back  to  the  business  of  trying  to  hook  a fish  solidly. 

1 eased  down  off  the  south  side  of  the  bridge  and 
started  upstream.  Fly  rod  in  hand,  I had  some  different 
bronzeback  bass  tactics  in  mind  for  the  day. 

One  of  the  most  appealing  factors  about  fishing  for 
smallmouth  in  May  is  that  Keystone  State  anglers  can 
enjoy  good  fortune  in  a variety  of  ways.  Furthermore, 
this  species  tends  to  be  aggressive  and  in  a feeding  mood 
during  many  hours  of  that  month.  While  some  of  the 
state’s  biggest  rivers  offer  super  fishing  for  these  bass 
during  this  period,  many  smaller  streams  are  excellent 
as  well. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


17 


Four  of  our  finest  larger  May  small- 
mouth  waters  are  the  Susquehanna,  the 
Delaware,  the  Juniata  and  to  a lesser  ex- 
tent these  days,  the  Allegheny.  But  you 
don't  need  to  have  your  mind  set  on  only 
100-yard-across  rivers  to  enjoy  significant 
achievement.  Many  smaller  waters  in  our 
state  offer  some  surprising  opportunities. 
In  fact,  on  Tionesta  Creek  in  Forest  County 
I witnessed  that  distinguished  gentleman 
working  his  bait  through  the  curve  of  that 
deep  run.  Waters  this  size,  and  even  smaller 
ones,  abound  through  our  state,  and  a sig- 
nificant percentage  of  them  will  possibly 
make  you  have  second  thoughts  about  pur- 
suing trout  at  this  time  of  year,  if  you’re 
willing  to  try  these  waters  for  bass. 

Of  course,  many  anglers  have  already 
gravitated  to  smallmouth  in  May.  In  1981 , 
the  Fish  Commission  decided  to  open  the 
bass  season  earlier  on  streams  (than  in 
most  lakes  and  ponds).  Each  spring  more 
and  more  anglers  are  getting  the  message 
that  herein  lies  some  great  sport,  and  the 
chance  for  a number  of  fishing  victories 
each  day  on  the  water.  And  what  angler 
has  failed  to  sing  the  praises  of  the  small- 
mouth? He's  not  only  perhaps  the  hardest 
fighting  fish  in  fresh  water,  but  lie’s  also 
a most  challenging  one  when  it  comes  to 
figuring  out  what  makes  him  tick  and  what 
techniques  are  most  consistently  success- 
ful. Let’s  look  at  a few  tactics  you  might 
try  with  quite  gratifying  results,  between 
right  now  and  Memorial  Day. 

Live  bait 

Some  live  baits  are  far  better  in  May 
for  smallmouth  than  most  all  live  baits  are 
for  largemouth,  no  matter  what  month  we’re 
talking  about.  The  reason  is  fundamental. 
The  former  lives  in  moving  water  (with 
few  exceptions  that’s  also  only  where  you 
can  fish  legally  in  May  for  bass — rivers 
and  streams).  Thus,  the  presentation  of  a 
minnow,  a small  crawfish,  the  tail  of  a 
craw,  even  a fat  nightcrawler,  is  easy — 
if  you  know  where  the  productive  bronze- 
back  lairs  are. 

Presenting  a live  bait  to  a largemouth, 
a species  that's  almost  always  inclined  to 
lurk  in  heavy  cover,  often  very  deep  within 
that  cover,  isn't  nearly  as  easy.  Of  course, 
some  streams  are  replete  with  brush,  trash 
and  snaggy  cover,  right  where  the  smallies 
are  apt  to  be,  so  we're  not  always  talking 
about  black-and-white  differences. 

Usually,  if  an  angler  is  going  to  fling 
bait  in  May,  he  has  one  reason  in  mind 
for  doing  that:  a big  bass,  a smallmouth 
that  could  possibly  be  taxidenny  material. 
You  can  bet  that  squire  with  the  Tyrolean 

18  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


hat  and  Scotch  plaid  coat  was  after  a wall- 
mounter.  I know  that  Tionesta  Creek  hole. 
It  holds  some  big,  big  bass.  So  think  about 
seeking  out  the  deeper  holes  if  big  small- 
mouth and  live  bait  are  to  be  the  order  of 
the  day. 

Such  stream  hides  aren’t  abundant,  even 
on  the  biggest  of  our  rivers.  When  you 
find  one,  work  it  carefully.  Stay  back  as 
far  as  possible,  especially  initially.  You 
don't  want  to  spook  any  big  fellas  lying 
in  wait  there  too  soon.  Keep  working  such 
a spot  with  cast  after  cast.  Be  thorough. 
Try  to  topple  your  live  offering  through 
the  suspected  holding  zone  in  as  natural  a 
manner  as  possible. 

Positioning 

You  probably  will  want  to  be  positioned 
on  the  side  of  the  holding  area,  and  slightly 
upstream  as  well.  From  such  a position  it 


will  usually  be  easiest  to  present  the  bait 
without  telegraphing  that  something’s 
amiss,  or  unnatural.  Before  making  that 
first  cast,  once  you've  waded  into  what 
you  figure  is  the  perfect  position,  deter- 
mine what  depth  you  think  the  bottom  of 
that  run  will  be,  for  this  will  no  doubt  be 
where  the  biggest  smallmouth  will  be  in 
waiting. 

Accordingly,  adjust  your  sinker  weight 
to  that  depth,  also  taking  into  account  the 
current  speed.  In  addition,  do  a bit  of  men- 
tal calculating.  Figure  in  your  mind  how 
far  above  the  run  your  bait  should  drop 
into  the  water  to  ensure  that  it  will  be  on 
the  bottom  when  it  tumbles  through  the 
payoff  zone.  This  idea  is  most  important. 

Work  constantly  at  not  allowing  the 
sinker  or  the  hook  to  foul  on  the  bottom, 
but  at  the  same  time,  be  certain  that  your 
worm  or  whatever  is  within  inches  of  the 


Nick  Sisley 


bottom.  If  you  don't  accomplish  the  latter 
your  chances  of  a strike  are  almost  non- 
existent. If  you  don’t  accomplish  the  for- 
mer the  hole  is  going  to  be  ruined  for 
successful  fishing  for  quite  a while. 

Spinners,  streamers 

Two  other  prime  ways  to  catch  small- 
mouth  in  streams  during  the  month  of  May 
are  with  spinners  and  with  streamer  flies. 
There’s  almost  total  overlap  when  it  comes 
to  tactics  and  presentation,  using  these  two 
effective  lure  types.  I suggest  standing  up- 
stream, as  well  on  the  side  of  the  target 
area  to  which  you’re  going  to  cast. 

With  a spinner  or  a streamer  the  drill 
is  usually  one  cast  to  a specific  target,  the 
next  cast  to  a new  target,  then  another 
fresh  target,  and  so  on  over  and  over — 
the  opposite  of  working  the  bottom  of  a 
deep  ran  with  live  bait.  Consequently,  you 
probably  should  be  continually  on  the  move. 
Still,  be  thorough,  maybe  taking  a step 
every  cast  downstream.  Set  up  your  plan 
of  attack  for  working  down,  not  up. 

Reading  the  water  is  also  a key  here. 
Look  for  holding  water.  If  you're  flinging 
with  no  target  in  mind  on  every  cast,  you 
won’t  encounter  many  strikes.  Any  old 
target  won’t  do,  either.  It  has  to  be  a small- 
mouth  lair.  In  many  instances  that  means 
getting  the  spinner  or  streamer  behind 
something,  alongside  something,  like  a log, 
a rock,  a bridge  abutment  or  rip  rap.  Where 
fast  water  marries  with  the  slower  stuff 
alongside  and  where  the  riffle  eases  into 
the  pool  are  also  good  places. 

The  “swing” 

Fishing  even  behind  or  alongside  such 
smallmouth  cover  isn’t  enough,  usually. 
The  most  knowledgeable  anglers  will  sug- 
gest one  more  key  for  these  specifics — 
the  “swing.”  As  you  cast  a spinner  or  a 
streamer  across  and  downstream,  the  one 
time  that  lure  is  most  likely  to  be  grabbed, 
attacked  and  annihilated,  is  when  it 
“swings.”  As  you  cast  either  of  these  ar- 
tificials above  the  specific  target,  it’s  going 
to  be  at  its  absolute  effective  best  not  at 
touchdown  and  not  at  pick-up  time — 
somewhere  in  between. 

When  the  cast  is  completed,  the  spinner 
or  streamer  tightens  against  the  line  as  the 
retrieve  is  started,  plus  the  current  starts 
moving  the  lure  downstream.  Eventually, 
the  bait,  spinner  or  streamer  gets  to  the 
point  of  its  final  swing  before  it's  simply 
a matter  of  fetching  the  fake  straight  back 
upstream  for  the  next  cast. 

At  this  final  stage  of  “the  swing”  a 
spinner  and  a streamer  are  most  effective. 


Calculate  your  cast  so  that  these  lures 
“swing”  perfectly  at  or  around  the  target 
area  you  have  in  mind,  not  where  the  lure 
makes  its  touchdown.  This  idea  is  a most 
important  basic  strategy  to  May  success 
on  streams  using  these  two  types  of  lures. 

Jigs 

Yet  another  effective  May  technique 
is  one  that  can  be  put  to  productive  use 
all  year  long — the  jig.  In  many  waters 
some  form  of  jig  fishing  provides,  by 
far,  the  most  successful  way  of  taking 
smallmouth. 

Try  the  jig  with  a plastic-action  tail  in 
most  smallmouth  efforts.  Sometimes  the 
flat-tail  grub  outfishes  the  twister  tail,  but 
not  usually  on  smallmouth.  The  clearer 
the  water,  the  more  subtle  you  should  go 
with  the  plastic  grub  color.  For  example, 
try  smoke  or  smoke  with  metal  flake  in 
the  clearest  streams,  and  black,  purple  or 
maybe  motor  oil  and  watermelon  in  black 
water  or  minimally  discolored  stuff.  Use 
brighter  and  brighter  colors  as  waters  be- 
come slightly  murkier. 

I’m  not  one  to  fish  streams  in  May  when 
water  color  is  off  significantly.  Better  to 
tune  up  the  turkey  call  or  practice  one’s 
game  of  golf  then. 

The  “swing”  isn't  nearly  the  thing  in 
jig  and  grub  fishing  as  it  is  with  streamers 
and  spinner.  With  the  jig  the  most  effec- 
tive game  plan  should  be  to  keep  the  bait 
tumbling  over  the  bottom  through  poten- 
tial lair  after  potential  lair  for  as  long  as 
possible.  Generally,  that  means  casting 
upstream,  allowing  the  jig  and  its  attach- 
ment to  come  back  toward  you  in  as  nat- 
ural a manner  as  possible. 

Work  hard  at  keeping  the  jig  near  the 
bottom,  and  work  just  as  hard  to  make 
certain  that  it  doesn't  sink  too  deeply, 
snagging.  One  good  plan  is  to  spinfish 
downstream,  then  tie  on  a jig  and  grub  to 
work  your  way  back  up  toward  your  ve- 
hicle, or  vice  versa.  There  are  times,  how- 
ever, when  casting  a jig  across  and  down- 
stream, as  suggested  for  spinners,  can  be 
dynamite.  A key  ingredient  is  getting  the 
jig  and  grub  to  “swing”  at  exactly  the 
right  time  in  the  payoff  water. 

Poppers 

Then  there’s  the  popping  bug  for  May 
smallmouth.  My  favorite.  In  most  streams 
the  popper  isn't  going  to  attract  many  brute 
bass.  But  that  lure  type  generally  results 
in  plenty  of  action,  as  it  did  that  day  on 
Tionesta  Creek. 

The  deep  runs  or  the  mid-stream  targets 
like  rocks,  logs  and  boulders  don't  usually 


produce.  More  often  it'll  be  the  slack  water. 
The  big  females  spend  minimal  time  here. 
Often  they'll  go  through  their  spawning 
ritual  in  the  shallows  w ith  the  male  at  night, 
then  move  off  to  the  deepest  hole  nearby. 
The  generally  smaller  males  make  the  nest 
in  slack  water,  and  guard  it.  The  females 
are  thus  the  chauvinists  in  their  realm.  But 
are  those  nest-guarding  males  suckers  for 
a carefully  cast  popper! 

1 suggest  casting,  giving  the  bug  the 
very  slightest  pops  immediately  on  touch- 
down, and  then  letting  it  sit.  That  often 
means  making  your  cast  so  that  the  fly 
line,  or  at  least  most  of  it.  lies  in  slack 
water  while  you’re  playing  this  waiting 
game.  Any  male  bass  nearby,  or  female 
for  that  matter,  won't  be  able  to  stand 
it  long. 

Surface  strikes  are  spectacular.  The  color 
of  the  popping  bug  doesn't  much  matter, 
though  I've  had  a lot  of  luck  with  black 
and  yellow  in  combination.  Nor  does  tip- 
pet size  matter.  Presentation  is  even  thing. 
Where  possible,  see  your  target,  the  light- 
colored  nest,  before  you  cast. 

Polarizing  glasses  are  absolutely  essen- 
tial for  this,  but  so  is  constant  observation. 
If  you're  not  casting  the  bug  at  a specific 
bed,  try  to  make  fairly  long  casts.  Long 
casts,  in  conjunction  with  presentations  that 
don't  spook  the  quarry,  are  essential  to  the 
consistency  that  all  true  anglers  seek. 

There's  something  about  casting  to  bed- 
ding bass  that  mbs  against  my  grain.  Still. 
1 do  it,  almost  with  relish.  No,  with  relish, 
maybe  because  I love  the  action  that  this 
time  of  year  produces.  But  I work  extra 
hard  at  returning  every  smallmouth  I catch, 
unless  it's  injured.  I also  fight  these  fish 
very  hard,  getting  them  to  net  or  hand  as 
fast  as  it's  practical.  1 release  them  quickly, 
usually  never  taking  them  out  of  the  water 
unless  it's  for  photos.  1 handle  them  only 
by  the  lower  jaw.  It's  also  important  to 
release  such  fish  very  close  to  where  you 
caught  them.  That  way,  those  bass  can  get 
back  to  guarding  the  nest  a bit  sooner. 
Don’t  expect  these  fresh-caught  bass 
to  return  to  nest-guarding  immediately, 
however. 

Of  course,  fisheries  biologists  tell  us 
that  we're  not  harming  the  resource  by 
tishing  for  them  in  May,  and  inis  is  un- 
doubtedly true.  Otherwise  they  wouldn't 
be  allowing  us  to  fish  rivers  and  streams 
in  the  spring.  Still,  killing  an  uninjured 
smallmouth  during  the  time  when  it's  prime 
for  them  to  reproduce  is  something  I 
can't  do. 


19 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Curse  of  the  Carp 


t 


Peculiarities  ran  rampant  in  the  Boggs 
family.  Old  Grandpa  Boggs  could 
play  the  “Battle  Hymn  of  the  Re- 
public” by  cracking  his  knuckles.  Steffie 
Boggs  could  recite  over  140  poems.  Uncle 
Westover  Boggs  had  a coonhound  that 
could  climb  trees.  And  Beanpole  Boggs 
caught  carp. 

On  the  surface,  catching  caip  may  not 
sound  so  peculiar.  Beanpole,  however, 
didn't  want  to  catch  carp.  He  didn’t  fish 
for  carp,  he  didn’t  like  carp,  he  was  sick 
and  tired  of  carp. 

You  see.  Beanpole  wanted  to  be  ac- 
cepted, even  looked  up  to,  by  the  younger 
Boggs.  Maybe  even  join  a fishing  club. 
But  there  is  no  Caip  Unlimited.  There  is 
no  Red  Man  Carp  Trail.  There  is  no  glory 
in  carp  guiding.  For  Beanpole,  catching 
carp  was  a curse. 

The  locust  hatch  of  1967  kicked  off 
Beanpole’s  carp-catching  curse.  The  bass 
were  coming  to  the  surface  to  feast  on 
spent  locusts  and  the  whole  town  was 
catching  five-pounders.  Except  Beanpole. 
All  he  caught  were  carp.  On  Jitterbugs, 
spinners.  Hula  Poppers,  no  matter  what 
he  used.  Beanpole  caught  carp. 

Figuring  that  carp,  a warmwater  fish, 
wouldn’t  go  deep  like  trout.  Beanpole  took 
up  deep  trolling.  He  mounted  two  down- 
riggers  on  his  boat,  dropped  crankbaits 
and  spoons  down  to  50  feet,  and  caught 
the  nicest,  coldest  mess  of  carp  you  ever 
laid  eyes  on. 

Beanpole  figured  the  only  way  to  stop 
catching  carp  was  to  give  up  fishing.  So 
he  listed  his  rig  in  the  paper  and  thought 
about  taking  up  bowling.  In  his  mind,  all 
those  pins  were  carp,  standing  on  their 
tails,  taunting  him  with  their  fins.  Boy, 
would  he  ever  knock  those  rascals  over. 

The  first  Thursday  night  after  the  ad  hit 
the  paper,  the  phone  rang.  Ernie  Hamway, 
a school  buddy  from  way  back,  was  on 
the  line. 

“Hey  Beanpole,  what’s  this  about  your 
boat  being  for  sale?” 

“It’s  true,”  said  Beanpole.  So  he  ex- 
plained his  curse  to  Ernie,  ending  with  the 
confession,  “I  just  can’t  take  any  more 
of  this.” 

“What  will  you  do  with  your  tackle, 
all  those  rods,  reels,  and  lures?” 

“I  dunno.  Sell  'em.  Maybe  remove  the 
hooks  and  hang  my  crankbaits  on  the  tree 
at  Christmas.” 

20  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


“Hold  on  Beanpole.  Let’s  give  this  thing 
one  more  try.  Meet  me  at  the  Seven  Points 
ramp  Saturday  morning  and  we’ll  do  away 
with  this  caip  curse  of  yours.” 

“Naw  Ernie,  it's  hopeless.  I’ve  tried 
everything.” 

“No  you  haven’t.  I’ve  got  a trick 
up  my  sleeve  that’s  foolproof.  No,  it’s 
carpproof. 


Saturday  morning,  Beanpole  and  Ernie 
eased  out  of  the  Seven  Points  ramp 
and  as  soon  as  they  were  in  deep  water, 
Ernie  started  hooking  up  downriggers. 

“I’ve  already  tried  downriggers,”  sighed 
Beanpole,  losing  hope. 

“Maybe,  but  you  haven’t  tried  cow- 
bells, have  you?” 

“Cowbells?” 

“Yeah,  like  off  a cow.  Let’s  try  a test. 
You  watch  both  lines.  We’ll  run  both  to 
50  feet,  crankbaits  on  both,  but  on  the 
right-hand  pole  we'll  tie  a cowbell  two 
feet  ahead  of  the  lure.  I guarantee  you’ll 
catch  nothing  but  brown  trout  on  that  line." 


So  off  they  went,  easing  along  with 
crankbaits  methodically  pumping  each  rod 
tip.  The  lake  was  dead  flat,  with  the  last 
patches  of  fog  slowly  giving  way  to  the 
rising  temperatures.  Beanpole  closed  his 
eyes  and  felt  the  sun  warm  his  face.  He 
imagined  a rod  popping  out  of  the  down- 
rigger  and  a fat  brown  trout  splashing  into 
the  net. 

When  Beanpole  opened  his  eyes,  the 
left-hand  line  was  out  of  the  downrig- 
ger  clip. 

“Get  him!”  yelled  Ernie.  Beanpole  set 
the  hook  hard  and  was  solidly  into  a fish, 
but  one  that  ran  side  to  side  in  a pattern 


he  quickly  recognized. 

“Carp.”  sighed  Beanpole,  as  Ernie  slid 
the  net  under  a nice  eight-pounder.  Well, 
nice  if  you  like  carp. 

“Let's  just  give  up,"  said  Beanpole. 

“No,  just  leave  that  rod  in  the  boat.  I 
guaranteed  you  a trout  and  a trout  you'll 
get,  curse  or  no  curse.” 

On  they  trolled  for  an  hour,  then  two. 

Beanpole  was  surveying  Terrace 
Mountain  when  the  rod  popped  up. 

Again  Ernie  shouted.  “Get  him!”  Again 
Beanpole  set  the  hook.  But  this  time,  the 
fish  stood  its  ground,  bulldogging  its 


head  from  side  to  side.  tr\ing  to  shake  the 
Ture.  Then  it  rushed  the  boat,  turned,  and 
went  out  while  Beanpole's  line  was  slack 
Minutes  later.  Ernie  netted  a tat  five- 
pound  brown. 

“See  there.  Beanpole?  The  curse  is  over. 
Want  to  catch  a laker?” 

''Sure.”  said  Beanpole,  still  staring  at 
the  brown,  iced  out  in  the  cooler. 

Ernie  slipped  a smaller  bell  on  in  place 
of  the  one  he  had  been  trolling.  Fifteen 
minutes  later.  Beanpole  repeated  the  se- 
quence with  an  eight-pound  lake  trout. 

“Amazing.  Ernie,  this  is  hard  to  believe 
after  years  of  catching  carp.” 

“Beanpole,  how  about  final  proof  your 
curse  is  over?  Wanna  take  a bass?” 

Beanpole  looked  at  Ernie  inquisitively, 
wondering  if  he  should  test  fate,  while 
Ernie  tied  on  a larger  cowbell  and  a dif- 
ferent crankbait.  He  then  set  the  downrig- 
ger  to  20  feet  and  started  around  the  bank, 
following  the  contours  as  best  he  could. 
In  less  than  five  minutes,  the  rod  popped, 
and  Beanpole's  drag  started  backpeddling 
before  he  could  remove  the  rod  from  the 
holder. 

Beanpole  hadn't  had  so  much  fun  since 
the  watermelon  truck  wrecked  over  on 
Route  22.  The  bass  played  him  and  he 
played  the  bass  until  both  were  played  out. 
The  largemouth  tipped  the  scales  at  5 
pounds,  9 ounces. 

Beanpole  sat  dumbfounded,  sporting  a 
big.  silly  grin.  Emie  handed  him  the  three 
cowbells. 

“Keep  using  these  and  you'll  never  catch 
another  carp.  The  big  one's  tor  bass,  the 
mid-size  for  browns,  and  the  little  one's 
for  lakers.” 

“Thanks  Emie,  I don't  know  what  to 
say.  I w;as  ready  to  hang  it  up.”  Beanpole 
looked  at  the  three  fish,  knowing  all  the 
other  Boggs  would  think  he  bought  them. 

“Wait  a minute,  Emie.  You  say  carp 
won't  hit  a lure  behind  the  bells  at  all.  and 
bass  only  hit  lures  behind  the  big  cowbell, 
and  browns  only  hit  lures  behind  mid-size 
cowbells,  and  lakers  only  hit  lures  behind 
the  little  cowbells?" 

“That's  right.” 

“Any  idea  why?” 

Emie  Hamway  scratched  his  head  and 
thought.  “You  know,  I never  tried  to  rea- 
son it  out.  But  1 read  about  it  in  a book 
one  time.  It  seems  you  only  catch  them 
for  whom  the  bell  trolls.”  , 

[7a] 


Max  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Fish  Facts 


Select  the  fish  from  the  list  that  best  fits  each  item. 


1 . Largest  member  of  the  minnow  family. 

2.  Found  mostly  in  western  PA,  state’s  biggest 
catfish. 

3.  Not  really  a trout,  but  a char. 

4.  Largest  member  of  the  perch  family. 

5.  First  trout  brought  to  the  United  States  from 
Europe. 

6.  Chain-like  markings  along  its  side. 

7.  Member  of  the  pike  family  with  bean-like  spots 
along  its  sides. 

8.  Cross  between  a golden  and  a rainbow  trout. 

9.  A popular  farm  pond  panfish. 

10.  Of  16  species  (kinds)  in  North  America  it’s  the 
only  one  found  in  Pennsylvania. 

1 1 . Considered  to  be  endangered  in  Pennsylvania. 

12.  Freshwater  drum,  known  by  another  name  in 
Pennsylvania. 

13.  Largest  member  of  the  salmon  family  found  in 
Pennsylvania. 

14.  In  some  states  it’s  called  a “rock  fish.” 

15.  Mostly  a stream  fish,  it’s  one  of  the  larger 
members  of  the  sunfish  family. 

16.  A trout  native  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

17.  Largest  member  of  the  pike  family  found  in 
Pennsylvania. 

18.  One  of  the  smaller  members  of  the  catfish 
family. 

19.  Comes  in  two  varieties — black  and  white. 

20.  The  smallest  of  the  true  basses  found  in 
Pennsylvania. 

21 . Sometimes  called  a dog  fish,  this  species  has 
an  air  bladder. 

22.  This  member  of  the  catfish  family  has  a deeply 
forked  tail. 

23.  The  largest  member  of  the  herring  family  found 
in  Pennsylvania. 

24.  A freshwater  form  of  the  sockeye  or  red  salmon. 

25.  A very  bony  fish,  sought  after  by  anglers  in 
many  streams  in  spring. 

Answers 

1.  Carp  2.  Flathead  3.  Brook  trout  4.  Walleye  5.  Brown  trout 

6.  Pickerel  7.  Northern  pike  8.  Palomino  trout  9.  Bluegill  10.  Eel 

11.  Sturgeon  12.  Sheepshead  13.  Chinook  14.  Striped  bass 

15.  Small  mouth  bass  16.  Rainbow  trout  17.  Muskellunge  18.  Bullhead 

19.  Crappie  20.  White  perch  21.  Bowfm  22.  Channel  catfish 

23.  American  shad  24.  Kokanee  25.  White  sucker 


Fish  list 

Striped  bass 
Bullhead 
American  shad 
Bluegill 
Walleye 
Flathead 
Northern  pike 
White  sucker 
White  perch 
Carp 

Brown  trout 
Crappie 


Channel  catfish 
Rainbow  trout 
Sturgeon 
Palomino  trout 
Eel 

Pickerel 
Brook  trout 
Sheepshead 
Bowfin 
Kokanee 
Muskellunge 
Chinook 

Smallmouth  bass 


Frog,  Snake, 
Turtle,  or  Fish 


The  words  listed  below  are  the  names  of  either  a 
fish , turtle,  snake  or  frog  found  in  Pennsylvania. 
Write  the  correct  name  after  each. 


1.  leopard 

2.  king 

3.  bog 

4.  red-bellied 

5.  darter 

6.  spring  peeper 

7.  queen 


8.  gar 

9.  shiner 

10.  black  racer 

11.  bowfin 

12.  alewife 

13.  ribbon 


Answers  located  on  p.  29. 


21 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration— Ted  Walke 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


documenting  the  improved  status  of  lish 
populations  in  the  lower  Delaware  Basin 
and  has  been  an  advocate  for  increased 
protection.  New  boating  and  fishing  ac- 
cess areas  have  been  constructed  in  Phil- 
adelphia and  Chester.  The  Delaware  River 
Basin  Commission  has  been  conducting  a 
use  attainability  study  in  the  Delaware  Es- 
tuary that  will  result  in  upgraded  discharge 
standards  designed  to  maintain  and  en- 
hance existing  water  quality. 

The  cities  of  Philadelphia  and  Camden. 
NJ.  have  shown  new  pride  in  their  Del- 
aware waterfronts  and  have  developed 
parks,  marinas,  and  recreational  facilities, 
including  a fishing  pier  in  Philadelphia’s 
Penn  Treaty  Park.  Condominiums  are  ris- 
ing where  dilapidated  piers  once  stood. 
Even  museums  are  getting  in  on  the  act. 
The  Philadelphia  Maritime  Museum  re- 
cently completed  a six-month  exhibition 
titled  “Gone  Fishing!  A History  of  Fish- 
ing in  River,  Bay,  and  Sea.” 


Muskies,  trout 

Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  stock- 
ings of  tiger  muskellunge  and  trout  have 
been  important  in  creating  popular  urban 
fisheries  that  otherwise  would  not  exist. 
The  Schuylkill  River  and  Delaware  Es- 
tuary have  been  stocked  annually  with  ti- 
ger muskellunge  fingerlings  that  grow  to 
30  inches  in  three  years.  Since  1981,  the 
Estuary  has  been  stocked  with  62,900  mu- 
skies from  the  Pennylvania-Delaware  state 
line  upstream  to  the  head  of  tide  at  Mor- 
risville,  Bucks  County.  Movement  of 
stocked  fish  between  Betsy  Ross  Bridge 
and  the  Philadelphia  Airport  have  filled 
the  20-mile  gap  in  the  actual  stocking  lo- 
cations. Up  to  36,000  trout  have  been 
stocked  each  spring  in  13  miles  of  Phil- 
adelphia’s Pennypack  and  Wissahickon 
creeks,  which  flow  through  Fairmount  Park. 
Anglers  catch  trout  into  the  summer. 

The  success  of  the  tiger  muskellunge 
stocking  program  in  the  Delaware  Estuary 
was  highlighted  by  the  unprecedented  1984 
harvest  of  10  percent  of  the  10,150  tin- 
gerlings  stocked  in  1981.  Inexperienced 
musky  fishermen  frequently  caught  their 
daily  limits  of  two  fish  and  sometimes 
even  attempted  to  harvest  three! 

Estuary  muskies  are  most  frequently 
caught  or  seen  in  the  tidal  portions  of  creeks, 
between  piers,  in  coves,  in  weed  beds, 
along  islands,  and  close  to  industrial  dis- 
charges. Movement  into  creeks  is  com- 
mon. This  was  demonstrated  during  a 1987 
chlorine  spill  into  Chester  Creek,  Dela- 
ware County,  which  killed  12  muskies  be- 
tween 24  and  38  inches  in  length. 


by  Mike  Kaufmann 

Infamous  for  polluted  waters,  polluted  air, 
and  urban  sprawl,  metropolitan  Philadel- 
phia is  gaining  fame  for  its  fishing.  That’s 
right,  fishing!  Muskellunge  fishing  there 
may  be  the  best  in  the  state.  Largemouth 
and  smallmouth  bass  populations  are  at- 
tractive. Stocked  trout  abound  and  wild 
trout  are  close  at  hand.  Striped  bass  are 
caught  by  nearly  every  angler  who  spends 
much  time  plying  the  tides. 

Actions  by  regulatory  agencies  on  both 
sides  of  the  Delaware  have  improved  and 
created  fisheries  for  metro  anglers  with 
enough  savvy  to  overcome  a historical 
aversion  to  urban  waters.  Municipalities 
have  been  forced,  frequently  by  consent 
agreements,  to  upgrade  sewage  treatment 
plants  that  had  been  providing  only  min- 
imum treatment.  Major  projects  were 


completed  in  Philadelphia  and  Camden  in 
1987.  The  Delaware  Estuary’s  resident  and 
migratory  fish  populations  have  been  the 
beneficiaries,  as  have  the  anglers  who  seek 
these  fish. 

The  cleanup  of  metro  waters  is  by  no 
means  complete.  Most  notably,  Philadel- 
phia’s antiquated  sewer  network  and  a host 
of  problems  associated  with  its  proper 
maintenance  result  in  frequent  raw  sewage 
discharges  to  the  Schuylkill  River  and  some 
Philadelphia  streams.  Philadelphia  streams 
also  “inherit"  poorly  treated  sewage  from 
overloaded  suburban  sewage  treatment 
plants.  Such  sights  are  sickening  to  any- 
one who  cares  about  clean  water  and  the 
organisms  that  depend  on  this  valuable 
resource. 

There  have  been  a number  of  agency, 
municipal,  and  private  sector  responses  to 
anticipated  and  actual  water  quality  im- 
provements. The  Fish  Commission  has  been 


Philadelphia  Fisheries: 

Muskies,  Stripers,  Bass  and  Trout 


that  they  catch  are  sublegal.  The  Fish 
Commission  stocks  only  sublegal  bass. 
Therefore,  stocking  is  not  the  answer  to 
the  problem.  This  complaint  is  character- 
istic of  waters  when  fishing  pressure  has 
“cropped”  the  bass  down  to  the  size  limit, 
or  even  one  inch  less  than  the  size  limit 
in  extreme  cases  of  illegal  harvest.  River 
fisheries  can  be  overharvested,  just  like 
farm  ponds. 

Stripers 

Wild  striped  bass  are  caught  throughout 
the  Delaware  Estuary,  in  the  lower  Del- 
aware River,  and  15  miles  up  the  Schuylk- 
ill to  Flat  Rock  Dam.  Due  to  water  quality 
improvements  in  the  estuary,  juvenile 
populations  are  expanding  and  a popular 
catch-and-release  fishery  exists  for  an 
abundance  of  fish  up  to  22  inches  in  length. 
Few  legal-sized  (33  inches)  stripers  are 
caught.  Also  caught  with  increasing  fre- 
quency are  striped  bass  x white  bass  hy- 
brids that  have  escaped  from  impound- 
ments on  Delaware  River  tributaries.  Their 
size  limit  remains  at  15  inches. 

Trout 

When  it  comes  to  trout  fishing,  met- 
ropolitan Philadelphia  fishermen  are  not 
limited  to  put-and-take  fisheries.  Valley 
Creek,  located  20  miles  from  center-city 
Philadelphia  in  Valley  Forge  National  Park, 
maintains  an  exceptional  wild  brown  trout 
population,  even  by  statewide  standards. 
Some  10  years  ago  this  population  was 
nearly  destroyed  by  siltation  from  devel- 
opment in  the  drainage.  Today,  the  trout 
population  thrives,  but  harvest  is  forbid- 
den due  to  flesh  contamination  by  PCBs. 
The  stream  offers  good,  uncrowded  catch- 
and-release  fishing. 

Clearly,  angling  in  urban  areas  need  not 
be  restricted  to  carp  fishing.  Other  species 
thrive,  the  quality  of  life  improves,  and 
city  economies  flourish  when  urban  waters 
are  cleaned  up.  Required  to  ensure  good 
fishing  are  tough  water  quality  standards 
designed  to  protect  and  enhance  urban 
fisheries,  proper  compliance  monitoring 
and  enforcement  by  regulatory  agencies, 
responsible  actions  by  municipalities  in 
controlling  pollution,  an  interest  by  elected 
officials  in  protecting  our  waterways,  not 
their  polluters,  and  activism  by  fishermen 
and  boaters  in  demanding  their  constitu- 
tional right  to  clean  water. 


Mike  Kaufmann  is  the  Fish  Commission  | 
area  fisheries  manager  for  southeast  .$ 
Pennsylvania. 


The  author  hefts  a musky  that  was  captured  during  electrofishing.  The  Fish 
Commission' s musky  stockings  have  been  important  in  creating  popular  urban 

fisheries  that  otherwise  would  not  exist. 


The  Schuylkill  River  has  been  stocked 
with  tiger  muskellunge  throughout  the 
Philadelphia  metropolitan  area.  Schuylkill 
muskies  are  often  caught  in  creek  mouths, 
downstream  from  major  tributaries,  and  in 
the  tailraces  of  dams.  Electrofishing  sur- 
veys have  repeatedly  documented  out- 
standing concentrations  of  muskellunge  in 
the  tailrace  of  Fainnount  Dam  and  at  the 
mouth  of  Wissahickon  Creek. 


Bass 

Largemouth  and  small  mouth  bass  pop- 
ulations in  metropolitan  Philadelphia’s 
rivers  range  from  poor  to  excellent,  de- 
pending on  location,  habitat  and  structure. 
Surprising  to  many  anglers  is  that  large- 
mouth  bass  are  well-adapted  to  the  tidal 
zone  and  that  bass  tournaments  in  the  Es- 
tuary have  produced  good  catches.  The 
tidal  Schuylkill  in  the  Fainnount  Dam  tail- 
race  and  the  free-flowing  Schuylkill  har- 
bor fair  to  good  populations  of  both  spe- 
cies. Philadelphia’s  rivers  do  not  need  to 
be  stocked  with  bass.  Populations  main- 
tain themselves  where  physical  and  chem- 
ical environments  are  adequate. 

Southeastern  Pennsylvania  anglers  fre- 
quently request  stockings  of  largemouth 
and  smallmouth  bass  when  all  the  bass 


Striped  bass  are  caught  throughout 
the  Delaware  Estuary,  in  the  lower 
Delaware  River  and  some  15  miles 
up  the  Schuylkill  to  Flat  Rock  Dam. 


24  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Pennsylvania ’s 
Walleye  Hotspots 


by  Chris  Dolnack 

What  one  fish  native  to  the  Keystone  State 
is  the  least  understood?  My  vote  goes  to 
the  walleye.  For  years  the  walleye  was 
called  Susquehanna  salmon,  walleyed  pike 
and  jack  pike,  but  in  fact,  the  walleye  is 
neither  a salmon  nor  a pike.  This  largest 
member  of  the  perch  family  is  native  to 
our  western  waters,  primarily  the  Ohio 
River  drainage. 

Walleye  are  now  distributed  throughout 
the  Commonwealth,  thanks  to  a sound 
fisheries  management  program.  Here  is  a 
rundown  on  Pennsylvania’s  top  walleye 
fisheries. 

Northwest 

Lake  Erie  is  one  of  the  nation’s  premier 
walleye  fisheries.  Although  the  largest 
concentrations  of  walleye  in  Lake  Erie  are 
found  in  the  western  basin,  Ohio  Depart- 
ment of  Natural  Resource  officials  confirm 
that  these  fish  are  spreading  east. 

Finding  walleye  in  a body  of  water  as 
big  as  Lake  Erie  is  no  easy  trick.  In  May 
and  June  the  fish  are  largely  scattered  on 
the  numerous  rockpiles.  During  this  time, 
walleye  readily  hit  jigs. 


A 6-foot  medium  light-action  graphite 
rod  and  6-  or  8-pound  test  line  to  cast 
colorful  leadheads  make  a good  combo. 
The  brighter  the  jig  color,  the  better. 
Orange,  red,  chartreuse  and  yellow  are  the 
most  productive  colors  on  the  lake. 

Small-boat  anglers  troll  deep-diving 
plugs  such  as  Bagley  Killer  B2s,  Shad 
Raps,  Hot’n  Tots  and  Wally  Divers.  Try 
trolling  parallel  to  shore,  beginning  at  10 
feet  or  so  and  work  back  and  forth,  grad- 
ually going  into  deeper  water.  Trolling 
slowly  with  live  crawlers  threaded  on  an 
Earie  Dearie  or  Mepps  Lusox  weight-for- 
ward spinner  is  a time-tested  method  for 
taking  walleye  in  Lake  Erie. 

There  is  no  closed  season  on  walleye 
in  Lake  Erie.  The  daily  creel  limit  is  six 
with  a minimum  length  of  15  inches. 

Pymatuning  Reservoir  on  the  Crawford 
County-Ohio  border  is  an  excellent  wall- 
eye fishery,  and  action  is  especially  hot  in 
May.  Walleye  regulars  troll  Hot’n  Tots  in 
10  to  12  feet  of  water  to  catch  most  of 
their  fish.  They  also  cast  Fuzzy  Grubs  tipped 
with  minnows  to  small  humps  and  gravel 
bars  where  walleye  congregate  to  feed. 

Anglers  enjoy  reciprocal  fishing  privi- 
leges from  water’s  edge  to  water’s  edge 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  The 
walleye  season  is  open  all  year  long  with 


standard  creel  and  minimum  length  reg- 
ulations enforced.  There  are  numerous  boat 
launching  facilities  around  the  lake.  Be- 
cause the  13,920-acre  lake  is  so  popular, 
a 10  horsepower  limit  is  imposed  on 
outboards. 

Although  not  rated  as  highly  as  some 
other  lakes,  Shenango  Lake  is  a good  bet. 
too.  This  3,500-acre  Corps  of  Engineers 
impoundment  is  located  at  Sharpsville,  on 
Route  18  in  western  Mercer  County.  May 
and  June  are  the  best  months  for  walleye 
action  on  Shenango.  Troll  or  drift  live  bait 
rigs  to  locate  the  constantly  moving  schools 
of  walleye.  Nightcrawlers  pulled  behind 
spinners  are  a favorite. 

Two  public  ramps  are  available  at  no 
charge  and  a fee  ramp  is  located  at  the 
Coastar  Marina  in  Marina  Park.  There  are 
no  horsepower  restrictions  on  Shenango. 

The  Allegheny  Reservoir,  also  known 
as  Kinzua  Dam,  harbors  big  walleye.  This 
12,000-acre  flood  control  pool  located  in 
eastern  Warren  County  is  also  maintained 
by  the  Corps  or  Engineers.  Mid-summer 
is  often  the  best  time  for  catching  walleye 
in  Kinzua.  Try  casting  jigs  tipped  with  a 
piece  of  nightcrawler  and  working  crank- 
baits  to  the  main  lake  points  or  where  the 
creek  channel  swings  close  to  shore. 

As  the  fish  go  deeper,  switch  to  jigging 
spoons  such  as  Kastmasters.  Hopkins  lures 
and  Lil’  Georges.  Heddon  Sonars,  Silver 
Luckies  and  similar  vibrating  sonic  lures 
also  score  in  this  situation. 

Shore  access  is  limited,  so  a boat  is  a 
must.  Launch  ramps  are  located  around 
the  southern  end  of  the  lake.  There  is  no 
horsepower  limit  on  Kinzua.  No  recip- 
rocal agreement  exists  between  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  York  and  the  Complanter  In- 
dian Reservation,  so  be  sure  to  secure  a 
New  York  fishing  license  and/or  Indian 
reservation  fishing  license  before  crossing 
into  the  Empire  State. 

The  Allegheny  River  from  the  Kinzua 
spillway  to  its  confluence  with  the  Ohio 
River  is  excellent  for  year-round  walleye 
fishing.  The  stretch  from  the  spillway  to 
the  town  of  Warren,  the  area  above  and 
below  the  Fish  Commission’s  Tidioute 
Access  Area,  the  mouths  of  both  East  and 
West  Hickory  creeks  and  the  Tionesta  area 
are  good  spots.  US  Route  62  parallels  the 
river  for  much  of  the  way. 

Jigs  and  live  bait  are  favorites  with  bank 
fishermen,  and  boat  anglers  troll  plugs  and 
crawler/spinner  combinations.  Most  tro- 
phy-size fish  that  the  river  produces  are 
caught  on  bucktail  jigs  tipped  with  min- 
nows, partly  because  many  of  the  veteran 
river  anglers  are  partial  to  deerhair  jigs. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


25 


The  Juniata  River  holds 
good  numbers  of  walleye, 
particularly  in  the  57-mile 
stretch  passing  through 
Juniata  and  Mifflin 
counties. 

Southwest 

Perhaps  the  biggest  story  in  Pennsyl- 
vania walleye  fishing  is  the  comeback  of 
the  Monongahela  River.  The  water  quality 
of  the  Mon  River  has  improved  greatly 
since  1970.  The  Fish  Commission  began 
stocking  in  the  mid  1970s  and  walleye 
lishing  on  the  river  has  steadily  improved 
during  the  1980s. 

Everyone  has  high  hopes  for  a speedy 


recovery  from  the  oil  spill  last  January. 
The  Fish  Commission  is  monitoring  the 
river’s  condition  closely. 

Early  season  fishing  is  best  in  the  cur- 
rent below  the  many  locks  and  dams  on 
the  river.  The  fish  remain  schooled  until 
the  water  warms,  after  which  they  scatter 
throughout  the  river.  Anglers  use  jigs, 
crankbaits  and  live  bait  with  good  results. 
Minnows  and  jigs  or  combinations  are  a 
good  choice  for  early  in  the  season. 

One  nice  feature  about  the  Mononga- 
hela River  is  that  shore  anglers  are  about 
as  successful  as  boaters.  Boating  can  be 
tricky  below  the  locks  and  sometimes  one 
spends  as  much  time  maneuvering  the  boat 
as  fishing. 

Another  underrated  walleye  hotspot  is 
the  Youghiogheny  Dam  in  southwestern 


40  to  Listonburg.  Electric  motors  only  are 
permitted. 

Southcentral 

The  Juniata  River  holds  good  numbers 
of  walleye,  particularly  in  the  57-mile 
stretch  passing  through  Juniata  and  Mifflin 
counties.  Early  in  the  season  the  fish  school 
in  the  deeper  pools.  Anglers  drifting  live 
minnows  impaled  through  the  baitfish's 
lips  with  a size  2 hook  catch  their  fair 
share.  Bouncing  jig’n  minnow  combos  off 
the  river  bottom  also  produces. 

Spots  to  tiy  include  the  large  pool  north 
of  Newton-Hamilton,  the  hole  between  the 
mouths  of  Kishacoquillas  and  Jacks  creeks, 
the  mouth  of  Tuscarora  Creek  and  the  nar- 
rows just  below  Lewistown  along  Route 
22-322. 


Pennsylvania 
Walleye  Hotspots 

1.  Lake  Erie 

2.  Pymatuning 
Reservoir 

3.  Shenango  Lake 

4.  Allegheny 
Reservoir 

5.  Allegheny  River 

6.  Monongahela 
River 

7.  Youghiogheny 
River  Lake 

8.  High  Point 
Lake 

9.  Juniata  River 

10.  Lake  Marburg 

1 1 . Susquehanna 
River 

12.  Blue  Marsh 
Lake 

13.  Lake 
Nockamixon 

14.  Lake  Galena 

15.  Beltzville  Lake 

16.  West  Branch 
Susquehanna 
River 


Somerset  County.  This  2,840-acre  Corps 
of  Engineer  reservoir  is  located  25  miles 
south  of  Somerset  off  Route  281  and  22 
miles  east  of  Uniontown  off  U.S.  Route 
40.  Troll  deep-diving  plugs  to  locate  the 
constantly  moving  schools  of  walleye  or 
cast  around  the  main  lake  points.  Unlim- 
ited horsepower  motors  are  permitted. 

Remote  High  Point  Lake  in  southern 
Somerset  County  has  one  of  the  best  wall- 
eye fisheries  in  the  region.  Live  minnows 
fished  on  a floating  jighead  or  Lindy  Rig 
produce  well  here.  High  Point  Lake  is 
reached  via  Route  219  to  Salisbury  or  U.S. 


Shore  anglers  are  not  at  a disadvantage 
along  the  Juniata  because  Route  322,  Route 
333  and  Route  103  all  run  along  the  river. 
There  are  Fish  Commission  access  areas 
along  the  east  shore  off  Route  22-322  at 
Thompsontown,  Muskrat  Springs,  Walker 
and  Mifflintown.  Access  areas  on  the  west 
side  off  Route  103  are  found  at  Grantville 
and  Newton-Hamilton. 

York  County’s  Lake  Marburg  is  the  best 
walleye  lake  in  the  region.  This  1,275- 
acre  lake  is  located  in  Codorus  State  Park 
just  east  of  Hanover  on  Route  216,  and  it 
offers  the  right  habitat  for  walleye  to  thrive. 


26  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


graphics-  -Rose  Boegli 


Main  lake  points  hold  fish  early  in  the 
season.  Walleye  also  hang  off  the  islands 
near  the  eastern  shore.  During  periods  of 
low  light  they  move  into  the  shallows  to 
feed,  returning  to  the  deeper  adjacent  water. 

Leadhead  jigs  in  yellow/black.  orange/ 
brown  and  chartreuse/black  combinations 
work  well.  Tip  them  with  a minnow,  piece 
of  crawler  or  a species-specific  fish  at- 
tractant.  Heddon  sonars  and  Shad  Raps  in 
a perch  finish  are  good  bird-dog  lures  to 
use  to  locate  schools. 

There  are  five  boat  launch  ramps  around 
the  lake.  Outboards  are  restricted  to  a 10 
horsepower  limit. 

Although  the  Susquehanna  River  is  bet- 
ter known  for  its  smallmouth  bass,  a few 
local  anglers  know  that  walleye  up  to  8 
pounds  can  be  taken  regularly.  The  Dau- 
phin Narrows  holds  good  numbers  of 
walleye  through  the  end  of  May,  even 
later  into  June  if  we  have  a particularly 
late  spring  with  good  rainfall. 

Throw  quarter-ounce  leadheads  dressed 
with  bucktail  or  a twister  tail  into  the  head 
of  a pool.  This  rock-strewn  stretch  pro- 
vides hundreds  of  holding  areas  to  try. 
Boat  anglers  can  launch  at  the  Fish  Com- 
mission’s Fort  Hunter  Access. 

The  next  walleye  hotspot  on  the  river 
is  the  Falmouth  area  of  Lancaster  County. 
Start  just  below  the  York  Haven  Dam  and 
fish  down  to  Haldeman  Island.  Jigs,  Rebel 
minnows  and  Rapala  Countdowns  are  the 
best  artificials  here.  Boaters  can  launch 
right  at  the  Fish  Commission’s  Falmouth 
Access,  off  Route  441. 

The  Peach  Bottom  power  plant  warm- 
water  discharge  is  a walleye  magnet.  Shal- 
low by  most  walleye  standards,  the  7-  to 
15-foot  depths  of  the  discharge  current  at- 
tract baitfish,  which  in  turn  attract  walleye 
and  a host  of  other  gamefish.  Cast  a jig 
across  the  current  and  work  it  back  across 
and  downstream.  Strikes  usually  occur  as 
the  jig  completes  the  sweep.  Crankbaits 
retrieved  very  slowly  in  the  current  and 
just  outside  the  current  work  well. 

My  favorite  rig  for  fishing  the  discharge 
is  a 6-foot  medium-action  baitcasting  out- 
fit spooled  with  10-pound-test  line.  Take 
plenty  of  1/4-  to  1 /2-ounce  jigheads.  You 
may  get  into  some  bonus  white  bass/striped 
bass  hybrids,  too.  There  is  no  closed  sea- 
son on  walleye  in  the  Conowingo  Pool 
and  a special  14-inch  minimum  length  re- 
quirement is  in  effect  from  the  Maryland 
state  line  to  the  base  of  the  Holtwood  Dam. 

Southeast 

Blue  Marsh  Lake  is  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania’s most  fertile  fishery,  says  Fish 


Commission  Area  Fisheries  Manager  Mike 
Kaufmann.  Because  the  growth  rate  is  so 
phenomenal  in  this  1.150-acre  Corps  of 
Engineers  impoundment,  anglers  can  ex- 
pect walleye  in  the  2-  to  4-pound  range 
on  average. 

Blue  Marsh  is  located  north  of  Reading 
off  Route  183.  Its  closeness  to  the  city 
coupled  with  the  unlimited  horsepower  al- 
lowance makes  Blue  Marsh  popular  with 
pleasure  boaters  and  water  skiers.  Fortu- 
nately, most  of  the  creek  arms  are  re- 
stricted to  slow  minimum  height  swell  speed 
to  accommodate  fishermen.  Walleye  fre- 
quent the  channels  and  points  in  the  pro- 
tected areas,  but  for  the  most  part,  serious 
warm-weather  walleye  anglers  spend 
the  bulk  of  their  time  on  the  lake  after 
sundown. 

The  area  around  the  island  and  main 
lake  points  are  good  starting  points.  Wall- 
eye also  suspend  over  the  50-foot  depths 
of  the  main  lake.  Small,  portable  down- 
riggers  are  often  the  only  way  to  reach 
these  fish,  especially  after  the  lake  strati- 
fies into  the  summer  months.  Boat  launch 
ramps  are  located  on  both  sides  of  the  lake 
at  State  Hill  and  Dry  Brooks. 

Bucks  County  boasts  two  of  the  re- 
gion’s better  walleye  lakes.  Lake  Nock- 
amixon  is  a 1 ,450-acre  waterway  located 
in  Nockamixon  State  Park,  just  east  of 
Quakertown.  One  of  the  most  productive 
ways  to  find  walleye  here  is  to  drift  live 
minnows  and  nightcrawlers  on  Lindy  Rigs 
over  the  main  channel.  Jig’n  minnows 
worked  off  the  rip-rap  areas  catch  fish, 
too.  A 10  horsepower  limit  is  in  effect  on 
Nockamixon. 

Lake  Galena  in  Peace  Valley  Park  is 
the  other  Bucks  County  walleye  hotspot. 
This  360-acre  lake  is  fished  heavily  for 
walleye  through  the  ice,  but  warm-weather 
anglers  here  are  more  panfish-oriented.  Jigs 
tipped  with  twister  tails,  Heddon  Sonars 
and  Shad  Raps  are  choice  artificials  on 
Lake  Galena.  Nightcrawlers  and  minnows 
fished  on  fluorescent  painted  floating  jig- 
heads  are  popular  with  veteran  Galena 
walleye  anglers. 

To  find  Lake  Galena,  travel  Route  313 
west  from  Doylestown.  Boats  may  be 
powered  by  electric  motors  only. 

Northeast 

Beltzville  Lake  is  a 947-acre  Corps  of 
Engineers  impoundment  located  east  of 
Lehighton  in  Carbon  County.  Long  known 
for  giving  up  big  walleye,  Beltzville  can 
be  an  on-again,  off-again  proposition. 
Heavy  pleasure  boat  traffic  during  warm 
weather  restricts  feeding  activity  and  suc- 


The  Susquehanna  River  at 
Northumberland  is  also 
known  for  excellent 
walleye  fishing. 

cessful  local  walleye  anglers  begin  their 
trips  at  dusk. 

Quite  a few  trophy-size  fish  are  caught 
on  nightcrawler  rigs  by  trolling  or  drifting. 
Trolling  plugs  is  popular,  too.  From  the 
beginning  of  the  season  until  mid-June, 
boats  congregate  where  the  power  lines 
cross  the  lake,  drifting  live  minnows  on 
the  bottom. 

Regulations  permit  unlimited  horse- 
power on  Beltzville. 

The  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna 
River  offers  top-notch  walleye  fishing  for 
much  of  its  316  miles.  Fish  Commission 
Area  Fisheries  Manager  Dave  Daniels  says 
that  electrofishing  surveys  reveal  a healthy 
population  with  a surprising  number  of 
fish  over  5 pounds. 

Jigs  and  live  minnow-  op  the  list  of 
choice  baits  for  the  Nor  3ranch.  Cray- 
fish and  madtoms  are  pic  ul  in  the  river 
and  provide  supplementa.  orage.  Jigs  in 
brown,  orange,  red  and  chartreuse  com- 
binations work  well.  The  Fish  Commis- 
sion maintains  access  areas  in  Sayre. 
Wyalusing,  Terrytown,  Tunhannock. 
Shickshinny,  Bloomsburg  and  Danville. 

The  Susquehanna  River  at  Northum- 
berland is  also  known  for  excellent  wall- 
eye fishing.  The  fabridam  in  Shamokin  is 
as  good  a spot  as  any.  says  Commission 
Area  Fisheries  Manager  Larry  Jackson. 
The  fishing  here  depends  on  the  water  con- 
ditions. Rain  in  the  western  drainage  or 
even  in  southeastern  New  York  state  can 
effect  the  fishing. 

There  are  boat  launch  facilities  on  Pack- 
ers Island  at  Shikellamy  State  Park,  in 
Sunbury,  and  Shamokin  Dam. 

Northcentral 

The  lower  end  of  the  West  Branch  of 
the  Susquehanna  is  this  region's  best  wall- 
eye water.  Mine  acid  pollutes  the  West 
Branch  from  Clearfield  to  Pine  Creek,  so 
Commission  Fisheries  Technician  Bob 
Wilberding  suggests  that  anglers  concen- 
trate their  efforts  from  Muncy  to  Nor- 
thumberland. 

The  mouth  of  Chillisquaque  Creek  is 
worthwhile,  especially  later  in  the  season. 
There  are  public  access  areas  off  Route 
405  at  Montgomery  and  Watsontown. 


May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Success  in 

Hard-Pounded  Waters 

Even  though  crowded  spots,  well-worn 
paths  and  wary  fish  characterize  the  an- 
gling in  urban  and  suburban  waterways, 
it  doesn’t  mean  you  have  to  hit  the  hin- 
terlands every  time  out  to  catch  fish.  In 
fact,  these  areas  have  their  experts  who 
consistently  catch  nice  fish,  sometimes  right 
in  the  shadows  of  tall  buildings  and  near 
city  blocks. 

Here  are  some  of  their  fish-catching 
secrets. 

First,  try  your  luck  very  early  in  the 
morning.  At  this  time  you  can  often  have 
a hard-fished  waterway  to  yourself,  and  at 
this  time  the  wariest  fish  often  feed. 

Use  the  lightest  tackle,  too.  At  some 
hard-hit  lakes,  even  during  the  day,  urban 
anglers  frequently  catch  bass  lurking  be- 
neath lily  pads.  They  often  take  them  with 
poppers  offered  on  a fly  rod. 

The  idea  behind  their  success  is  that 
even  in  summer,  water  underneath  thick 
stands  of  lily  pads  is  surprising  cool,  so 
big  bass  bask  there  during  the  heat  of  the 
day.  If  a morsel  comes  by,  they  may  not 
chase  it,  but  they  might  mosey  on  up  to 
it  between  the  breaks  in  the  pads.  That’s 
when  city  sharpies  strike. 

Furthermore,  serve  up  terrestrials  and 
traditional  trout  (lies  for  the  plumpest  blue- 
gills  in  heavily  fished  lakes.  Use  Hies  like 
McMurray  ants,  an  Adams,  and  an  as- 
sortment of  caddises  in  sizes  10  through 
about  16.  A mosquito  pattern  also  works. 

These  small  flies  frequently  fool  fish 
because  they  most  often  see  a daily  parade 
of  huge  crankbaits  and  globs  of  baits  and 
sinkers,  which  makes  them  wary. 

Similarly,  keep  a close  eye  on  any 
hatches  that  occur  on  a heavily  fished 
waterway.  You  can  score  during  the  odd 
hours  if  you  use  fly  rod  imitations  that 
match  the  hatch.  Fook  particularly  for 
caddis  hatches. 

Another  good  idea  for  scoring  is  to  get 
to  know  the  waterway.  You'd  be  surprised 
how  many  “secret”  places  you  can  find 
at  crowded  waterways.  For  instance,  at 
one  lake,  a regular  baits  up  and  fishes 
along  the  southeastern  shoreline.  This  oth- 
erwise very  shallow  puddle  features  a spring 
about  20-30  yards  off  the  southeastern 
shoreline,  where  the  bottom  hits  a depth 
of  about  16  feet.  The  biggest  carp  in  the 
lake  hang  around  there.  On  several  oc- 
casions that  fisherman  has  pulled  17- 


pounders  out  at  this  spot,  accompanied 
by  the  oohs  and  aahs  of  disbelieving  on- 
lookers. 

How  did  he  find  out  exactly  where  to 
fish  .'  He  just  talked  to  the  park  superin- 
tendent, who  himself  was  an  avid  angler 
and  who  just  happened  to  pay  diligent  at- 
tention to  who  fished  the  lake  and  exactly 
what  they  caught. 

You  can  find  out  similar  secrets  by  ob- 
serving other  anglers  and  talking  to  the 
right  people.  And  the  right  people  aren’t 
always  the  old-timers.  One  evening,  some 
junior  high  kids  were  tossing  2-inch  Ra- 
palas  and  Rebels  in  a pond  in  the  middle 
of  a town  square.  No  one  had  an  inkling 
that  one  shoreline  was  a good  bass  spot 
because  it  was  the  deepest  part  of  the  pond. 
These  kids  regularly  caught  and  released 
10-inch  to  12-inch  largemouths  along 
this  spot. 

Another  practical  idea  is  to  fish  when 
it  rains.  Few  anglers  fish  in  the  rain,  but 
provided  the  weather  isn't  life-threaten- 
ing, fishing  in  the  rain  can  change  the 
whole  face  of  a hard-pounded  waterway. 
There  are  enough  decent  rainsuits  on  the 
market  that  for  a reasonable  investment 
you  can  fish  in  the  rain  and  stay  quite  dry 
and  comfortable.  You’ll  catch  fish,  too, 
when  everyone  else  has  headed  home. 

Remember  these  ideas  next  time  you'd 
like  to  try  your  luck  in  or  near  a city. 
You  may  discover  that  you  can  score  in 
a hard-pounded  waterway  a lot  more 
frequently  and  quickly  than  you  thought. 
— Art  Michaels 


American  shad 
Anglers  Awards 

In  1987,  the  Fish  Commission  awarded 
61  junior  and  senior  anglers  with  awards 
for  American  shad  catches.  A 7-pound 
shad  qualifies  for  a senior  award;  a 4- 
pounder  qualifies  for  a junior  award.  An- 
glers caught  34  award-winning  shad  in 
April,  and  27  in  May.  In  1987,  all  Amer- 
ican shad  citation-sized  fish  were  fooled 
with  a shad  dart. 

The  current  state  record  American  shad 
was  caught  by  Anthony  Mecca,  of  Peck- 
ville,  PA,  in  1986.  The  fish  weighed  9 
pounds,  9 ounces,  and  measured  25  j inches 
long.  Mecca  made  the  catch  in  the  Pike 
County  portion  of  the  Delaware. 


Why  Use  a VHF  Radio? 

If  you  want  to  contact  a friend  on  land 
just  pick  up  a phone  and  place  a call.  If 
your  child  becomes  ill  it  is  easy  to  pick 
up  a phone  and  call  your  family  doctor. 
It’s  easy  to  contact  people  on  land;  just 
use  a telephone  and  place  a call.  It  can  be 
almost  as  easy  while  out  boating  with  a 
radio  installed  in  your  boat.  If  you  break 
down  or  go  aground  you  can  easily  call  a 
rescue  agency  or  marine  salvage  com- 
pany— if  you  have  a radio.  If  you  are 
going  to  be  late  returning  from  a boat  out- 
ing you  can  call  ahead  to  let  your  family 
or  friends  know — if  you  have  a radio.  If 
you  are  in  distress  you  can  call  the  Coast 
Guard  or  other  rescue  agency — if  you  have 
a radio.  A radio  can  mean  the  difference 
between  a minor  problem  remaining  a mi- 
nor or  a minor  problem  becoming  a major 
problem.  A radio  should  be  considered  an 
essential  part  of  safe  boating  equipment. 

Citizens  band  (CB)  is  a relatively  in- 
expensive form  of  radio  communications 
but  it  is  not  encouraged  by  the  Coast  Guard 
for  use  as  the  primary  or  sole  means  of 
radio  communications  for  boaters  in  coastal 
areas  or  on  the  Great  Fakes.  The  disad- 
vantages of  CB  are  overcrowded  channels 
and  a poor  ability  for  the  radio  signal  to 
remain  strong  over  distance. 

The  Coast  Guard  uses  and  recommends 
the  use  of  Very  High  Frequency  FM  (VHF- 
FM)  radios.  The  advantages  of  VHF-FM 
are  good  quality  transmission,  a strong 
signal,  and  channels  are  reserved  for  par- 
ticular functions  to  enhance  safe  boating. 

Channel  16  is  the  distress-safety  calling 
frequency  and  is  monitored  continuously 
by  the  Coast  Guard.  Other  examples  of 
assigned  frequencies  are  channel  22,  which 
is  used  primarily  for  Coast  Guard/recre- 
ational boater  communications,  and  chan- 
nel 13,  the  bridge-to-bridge  channel, 
used  for  communicating  navigation  infor- 
mation. 

In  most  cases  boaters  are  not  required 
to  have  a Federal  Communications  Com- 
mission (FCC)  license  to  operate  a VHF- 
FM  radio.  Even  if  your  boat  is  a 16-foot 
runabout,  a VHF-FM  radio  is  a good  in- 
vestment— your  life  may  depend  on  it. 
Copies  of  brochures  concerning  VHF-FM 
radios  can  be  obtained  through  your  local 
office  of  the  Federal  Communications 
Commission. 


28  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


HOOK  YOUR 
FRIENDS  ON 
FISHIN’  FUN! 


NATIONAL  FISHING  WEEK 
JUNE  6-12,  1988 


NOAA 

Weather  Radio 

NOAA  weather  ratio  is  a service  of 
the  National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric 
Administration  (NOAA)  of  the  U.S.  De- 
partment of  Commerce.  The  “voice  of  the 
National  Weather  Service’’  provides  con- 
tinuous broadcasts  of  the  latest  weather 
information  directly  from  National  Weather 
Service  offices.  Taped  messages  are  re- 
peated every  four  to  six  minutes  and  are 
routinely  revised  every  one  to  three  hours 
or  more  frequently,  if  needed.  Most  sta- 
tions operate  24  hours  daily.  The  broad- 
casts are  made  on  one  of  seven  high-band 
FM  frequencies,  ranging  from  162.40  to 
162.55  megahertz  (MHz). 

This  service  is  vital  to  fishermen  and 
boaters.  Listed  below  are  the  Pennsylvania 
NOAA  weather  radio  network  stations  and 
their  frequencies.  For  more  details,  and  to 
receive  a listing  of  NOAA  weather  radio 
receiver  manufacturers,  contact  the  Na- 
tional Weather  Service  (Attn:  W/OM15x2), 
National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric 
Administration,  Silver  Spring,  MD  20910. 

Allentown  162.400  MHz 

Clearfield  162.550  MHz 

Erie  162.400  MHz 

Harrisburg  162.550  MHz 

Johnstown  162.400  MHz 

Philadelphia  162.475  MHz 

Pittsburgh  162.550  MHz 

State  College  162.475  MHz 

Wilkes-Barre  162.550  MHz 

Williamsport  162.400  MHz 


ANSWERS  TO  FROG,  SNAKE, 
TURTLE,  OR  FISH 
1.  frog  2.  snake  3.  turtle  4.  turtle 
5.  fish  6.  frog  7.  snake  8.  fish  9.  fish 
10.  snake  11.  fish  12.  fish  13.  snake 


Saving  Fuel 

With  prices  at  gas  pumps  increasing, 
it’s  a thrifty  idea  for  boaters  to  review  their 
fuel-saving  techniques.  The  Mercury  Out- 
boards boating  authorities  offer  these  sug- 
gestions for  economizing  on  fuel  in  ways 
that  won’t  cause  you  to  economize  on  your 
boating  or  fishing  enjoyment. 

• Remember  that  boating  fuel  is  con- 
sumed on  the  highway  as  well  as  on  the 
water.  Make  sure  your  boat  trailer’s  tires 
are  properly  inflated  for  improved  gas 
mileage  (longer  tire  life,  too).  Lubricate 
the  wheel  bearing  periodically;  reduced 
friction  results  in  a smoother  pull. 

• Watch  your  boat’s  weight.  The  lighter 
your  rig,  the  better  the  fuel  economy  will 
be,  so  check  your  gear  and  make  sure  you 
really  need  all  the  usual  cargo.  Balance 
your  passenger  load  to  help  your  boat  get 
on  plane  quickly  and  reach  the  desired 
speed  without  plowing.  Use  your  outboard 
motor’s  power  trim  feature  to  minimize 
the  amount  of  surface  in  contact  with  the 
water. 

• Slow  down.  Wide-open  throttle  run- 
ning can  increase  fuel  consumption  by  50 
percent  or  more.  Once  you  get  on  plane, 
it’s  far  more  economical  to  throttle  back 
by  about  one-third. 

• Avoid  excessive  idling.  Whenever  you 
have  to  stop,  shut  off  the  engine.  A warm 
engine  restarts  easily  without  choking. 

• Stay  in  tune.  Proper  ignition  timing  and 
clean  spark  plugs  are  necessary  for  opti- 
mum fuel  economy.  Your  dealer  should 
inspect  your  motor’s  carburetors  for  proper 
float  level,  correct  jetting  and  smooth  choke 
operation. 

• Keep  your  propeller  in  good  shape.  A 
damaged  prop  is  a power  robber.  Make 
sure  your  prop  has  the  right  pitch  and  di- 
ameter for  your  boat. 

• Keep  the  boat’s  bottom  clean.  A slick 
hull  reduces  underwater  drag. 


Maps,  Maps,  Maps 

Maps  for  Fishermen  and  Boaters  is  a 
new  2-sided  Fish  Commission  publication 
that  provides  detailed  information  on  where 
to  obtain  maps  for  trout  fishermen,  warm- 
water  species  anglers,  type  3 county  maps, 
topographical  maps,  lake  structure  (hy- 
drographic) maps,  river  maps  and  navi- 
gation/nautical charts.  For  a free  copy,  send 
a business-sized  stamped,  self-addressed 
envelope  with  your  request  to:  Publica- 
tions Section,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Com- 
mission, P.O.  Box  1673.  Harrisburg.  PA 
17105-1673. 

Updated  Angler’s  Award 
Publication 

Complete  information  on  the  Fish  Com- 
mission Angler's  Awards  program  is 
available  in  an  updated  and  revised  pub- 
lication. The  pamphlet  includes  a list  of 
current  state  records,  minimum  weights 
for  eligible  species  and  applications  for 
awards.  Please  include  a business-sized 
self-addressed,  stamped  envelope  with  your 
request  for  this  item.  Contact:  Publications 
Section,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission, 
P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105- 
1673. 


Adopt-a-Stream 

Publication 


The  Fish  Commission  Adopt-a-Stream 
program  and  Fish  Habitat  Improvement 
program  have  recently  been  combined.  The 
new  program  takes  the  Adopt-a-Stream 
name.  It  eliminates  some  of  the  duplica- 
tion of  procedures  and  saves  money  with- 
out sacrificing  services.  An  updated,  re- 
vised pamphlet  spells  out  Adopt-a-Stream 's 
goals,  guidelines  for  cooperating  sponsors 
and  project  ideas,  and  it  includes  a form 
for  becoming  a cooperating  sponsor.  This 
pamphlet  is  free,  but  with  requests  please 
include  a business-sized  stamped,  self-ad- 
dressed  envelope.  Contact:  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission,  Adopt-a-Stream  Sec- 
tion, 450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte.  PA 
1 6823 . The  phone  number  is  8 1 4-359-5 1 85 . 


May  1 988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Speakers  Listing  Available 

The  Outdoor  Writers  Assoeiation  of 
America,  Inc.,  (OWAA)  has  a speakers 
listing  available  on  a wide  variety  of  out- 
door subjects.  Many  of  the  300  speakers 
combine  their  talks  with  slide  shows,  films. 


videotapes  or  demonstrations.  They  are 
available  to  schools,  colleges,  clubs,  out- 
door shows,  exhibits,  etc.  The  listing  con- 
tains the  following  information:  name,  ad- 
dress, phone  number,  availability,  preferred 
audience,  subjects  and  1988  fee. 

The  listing  is  divided  into  five  cate- 
gories: Fishing/Boating/Tackle,  Hunting/ 
Firearms/Dogs/Legislation , Conservation/ 
Environment/Nature/Wildlife,  Photogra- 


phy/Writing/Joumalism,  Camping/Back- 
packing/Hiking/Travel plus  a miscella- 
neous listing  that  covers  everything  from 
edible  plants  to  outhouses.  Please  request 
the  correct  category  for  your  group. 

To  receive  the  1988  OWAA  speak- 
ers listing,  write  to  OWAA  Headquarters, 
2017  Cato  Avenue,  Suite  101,  State 
College,  PA  16801.  The  phone  number  is 
814-234-1011. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


Prevent  freezer  burn  and  dehydration 
when  storing  fish  by  placing  the  entire  fish 
or  pieces  of  fish  in  a milk  carton,  fill  it  with 


water  and  freeze. 


If  you  haven't  taken  care  of  your  ice  fish- 
ing equipment  by  now,  it  may  be  starting  to 
rust.  Spray  the  blades  of  your  ice  auger, 
skimmer  and  other  hardware  with  WD-40  or 
some  other  moisture  preventative  to  protect  it 
until  next  winter. 

Colored,  waterproof  felt-tip  markers  offer 
an  alternative  to  paint  when  restoring  color 
and  pattern  to  your  old  plugs. 


Plastic  tails  and  worms  can  melt  and  cre- 
ate havoc  in  a tackle  box  during  the  warm 
months.  Store  the  baits  in  small,  zip-top 
plastic  bags,  grouping  them  by  color. 

Fly  tying  cement  and  paint  used  to  color 
shad  darts  and  jig  heads  have  a tendency  to 
thicken  after  setting.  Drop  a small  ball  bear- 
ing or  a buckshot-size  pellet  into  the  bottle. 
It  speeds  the  mixing  when  the  bottle  is 
shaken. 


Ever  open  your  freezer  and  scratch  your 
head  wondering  what’s  in  a package  and 
when  it  was  put  in  there?  Save  this  trouble 
(and  possible  waste)  by  marking  all  packages 
of  fish  when  they're  stored. 


Warm-weather  fishing  in  lakes  and  ponds 
that  hold  trout  may  be  most  productive  for 
shorebound  anglers  in  the  hours  of  sunrise 
and  sunset.  That’s  when  trout  move  from 
the  colder  depths  to  seek  baitfish  in  the 
shallows. 


Pike  and  chain  pickerel  have  sharp  teeth 
that  make  short  work  of  monofilament  line. 
Bait  fishermen  usually  use  wire  leaders  but 
plug  and  spinner  fisherman  often  prefer  to 
take  their  chances  by  tying  their  lures  di- 
rectly to  the  line.  The  heavier  wire  leader  re- 
duces their  natural  action. 

Flypaper  isn’t  as  popular  as  it  once  was 
before  sprays  came  on  the  scene,  but  it’s  still 
readily  available.  Hang  a strip  on  a tree 
along  your  favorite  stream.  Retrieve  it  a day 
later  to  find  out  what’s  hatching. 

Reels  should  not  be  stored  with  the  drag 
turned  tight.  After  each  trip  loosen  the  drag; 
then  adjust  accordingly  your  next  time  out. 

One  of  the  best  investments  an  angler  can 
make  is  an  extra  spool  for  each  spinning 
reel.  Fill  one  with  the  test  that's  used  most 
frequently  and  the  other  with  line  two 
pounds  lighter  or  heavier  for  alternate  fishing 
conditions. 

When  traveling  to  your  fishing  hole  in  a 
boat,  peel  off  about  50  yards  of  line  (with 
no  lure  or  weight)  and  let  it  trail  behind  in 
the  water.  Jerk  the  rod  about  a dozen  times 
before  reeling  in.  The  action  wets  and 
stretches  the  mono,  making  casting  easier. 

illustration— George  Lavanish 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state's  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals 
of  safe  boating  and  optimum  boating 
opportunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller.  P.E..  Executive 
Director 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew.  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 

Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 


BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
8 14-359-5 1(H) 

Delano  Graff.  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Vacant,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Sen’ices 
Richard  A.  Snyder.  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shyrl  H<x)d,  Division  of  Warmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
8 14-359-5 1(H) 

James  Young.  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A..  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Sen’ices 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Sen’ices 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart.  Director 


BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 
Andrew  Mutch.  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
7 17-657-45  IS 

Cheryl  K Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich.  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 

Art  Michaels.  Magazines 
Ted  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


30  May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


How  to  Release  Fish 

Many  factors  influence  the  probability  of  survival  when  a fish  is  returned  to  the  water  after 
it’s  caught  and  played.  Even  though  the  fish  may  appear  to  be  in  good  condition  when 
released,  there  is  no  guarantee  that  it  will  survive.  Still,  if  you  follow  these  steps  closely, 
you  greatly  increase  the  chances  for  survival  of  the  fish  you  release. 

• Time  is  important.  Play  and  release  the  fish  as  quickly  as  possible.  Don’t  play  the  fish 
until  it’s  completely  exhausted. 

• Keep  your  catch  in  the  water  as  much  as  possible  when  removing  the  hook.  A fish 
suffocates  out  of  water  and  can  sustain  brain  damage.  In  addition,  if  you  let  a fish  flop 
around  on  rocks  or  on  the  bottom  of  a boat,  you  can  fatally  injure  it. 

• Be  gentle  when  handling  fish.  Don't  squeeze  your  catch,  and  keep  your  fingers  out  of 
its  gills.  Small-mesh  nets  are  helpful  if  the  mesh  doesn't  get  tangled  in  the  fish's  gills. 

• Remove  the  hook  gently  but  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Use  long-nosed  pliers,  forceps,  or 
similar  tools.  If  the  catch  is  deeply  hooked,  cut  the  line  near  the  fish's  mouth  and  leave 
the  hook  in.  Don’t  tear  out  the  hook;  the  fish  could  die  from  shock. 

• Revive  the  fish  and  then  release  it  after  it  regains  equilibrium.  Hold  the  fish  upright, 
heading  upstream.  Move  the  fish  forward  and  backward  to  force  water  through  the  gills. 
When  the  fish  revives  and  can  swim  normally,  release  it  to  survive  and  provide  sport  on 
another  day. 


5.2  Million  Trout 

About  5.2  million  trout  will  find  their  way  into  Commonwealth  waters  this  year  in 
preseason  and  inseason  stocking.  Those  5.2  million  trout  will  each  average  9.5  inches 
in  length.  If  you  laid  them  down  lengthwise  one  after  the  other,  the  line  would  stretch 
about  780  miles,  or  more  than  the  distance  from  Easton  to  Erie  and  back  again  to 
Easton. 

Those  same  trout  weigh  about  2.4  million  pounds,  or  1.200  tons. 

Fish  Commission  trucks  will  travel  more  than  310,000  miles  to  stock  over  4.000 
miles  of  streams  and  93  lakes.  That’s  more  than  the  distance  you’d  drive  in  100  round 
trips  from  Philadelphia  to  San  Francisco  and  back  again  to  Philadelphia. 

The  5.2  million  legal-sized  trout  are  reared  year-round  in  10  Commission  fish  culture 
stations. 


When  you  call  the  Commission  Bureau  of  Education  and  Information,  you  will 
likely  speak  with  one  of  these  staffers.  Left  to  right  are  Charlene  Glisan,  Rose  Ann 
Bartal  and  "Kenny”  Ferretti. 


Just  fill  out  this  form  and  send  it  with  a photo 
of  you  and  your  catch. 


Name 


Address 


City  State  ZIP 


Account  # (top  line  of  magazine  mailing  label) 


Date  of  catch  and  release 


Location 


Fishing  method 


Remarks 


Please  send  only  photos  of  fish  that  were 
released  unharmed.  A color  slide  or  a black- 
and-white  or  color  print  no  smaller  than  3V2 
x 5 is  best.  The  Fish  Commission  offers  no 
payment  for  these  pictures.  If  you  wish  your 
photograph  to  be  returned,  please  include 
a stamped,  self-addressed  envelope  when 
you  send  us  your  picture.  Send  to:  “Caught 
and  Released,”  Pennsylvania  Angler,  PO. 
Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 

Please  photocopy  this  form  if  you  don’t  wish 
to  cut  your  magazine,  or  with  your  photo- 
graph include  the  information  on  a separate 
sheet. 

May  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


31 


V <f 


June  19881$!. SO 

Pennsylvania 

ANGLER 

The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


7 


* m*  M V' ^ W-: 


STATE 
DOCUMENTS 


LIBRARY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA 

ints  Section 


|JJUN  0 1 1988 
! 


Straight 

Talk 


Pennsylvania’s 
Recreation  Plan 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


Expenditures  for  recreation  and  leisure  in  Pennsylvania  have  increased  greatly  during 
the  past  20  years,  and  recreation  and  leisure  industries  have  become  an  economic  force 
that  affects  the  quality  of  life  and  the  economic  well-being  of  a large  number  of 
Pennsylvania  residents. 

Pennsylvania’s  Recreation  Plan  for  1986  to  1990  identifies  many  issues  and  policies 
to  be  followed  by  federal,  state,  regional  and  local  agencies  to  meet  the 
Commonwealth's  recreational  needs.  This  plan  was  prepared  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Department  of  Environmental  Resources,  Office  of  Program  Planning  and 
Development,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Statewide  Recreation  Planning  Advisory 
Committee  and  the  Citizens  Recreation  Advisory  Council.  The  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission  helped  prepare  this  document  as  a member  of  the  Statewide  Recreation 
Planning  Advisory  Committee. 

A number  of  the  major  issues  identified  by  this  statewide  planning  document  and  its 
policies  were  developed  for  necessary  action,  and  to  provide  guidance  to  the 
Commission  in  its  efforts  to  increase  fishing  and  boating  recreational  opportunities. 

The  highest  priority  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  Recreation  Plan  is: 

“.  . .to  encourage  adequate  sources  of  funding  to  ensure  that  the  park  and 
recreation  needs  of  Pennsylvania  residents  can  be  met.” 

The  Commission  as  an  independent  agency  must  provide  most  of  its  own  funds  by 
collection  of  fishing  license  fees  and  boat  registration  fees.  The  Commission  has 
implemented  steps  to  adjust  these  fees  to  realistic  levels  so  that  it  can  continue  its 
present  programs  and  meet  the  unanswered  fishing  and  boating  needs  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

Another  priority  need  of  the  Commonwealth  is  to  provide  additional  opportunities 
for  recreation  throughout  the  Commonwealth.  The  Commission  has  had  a long- 
standing program  to  provide  public  access  to  the  lakes  and  waterways  of  the 
Commonwealth,  and  is  constantly  seeking  new  waters  for  expansion  of  fishing  and 
boating  opportunities.  This  program  includes  selective  acquisition  of  land  and  waters 
for  recreational  purposes  on  a limited  basis. 

The  plan  also  identifies  the  need  to  place  continued  emphasis  on  the  unmet 
recreational  needs  of  special  populations,  such  as  handicapped/disabled,  disadvantaged, 
or  older  citizens.  As  funds  become  available,  the  Commission  is  completing 
modifications  and  improvements  to  its  existing  access  areas,  lakes  and  other 
recreational  facilities  to  meet  the  needs  of  special  populations. 

Another  priority  of  the  plan  is  to  continue  development  of  environmental  education 
programs  for  the  purpose  of  educating  our  people  to  the  importance  of  our 
environment.  The  Commission  has  implemented  a pilot  program  anti  plans  are  in  place 
for  expansion  of  the  Commission’s  educational  and  informational  efforts  in  the  public 
school  system  and  to  reach  other  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Protection  of  our  aquatic  resources  is  mandated  by  the  following  policy,  adopted  in 
the  recreation  plan: 

“It  shall  be  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  to  continue  to  support  efforts  to 
control  the  source  of  pollutants,  including  mine  acid  drainage,  soil  erosion,  and 
acid  precipitation  which  degrade  the  water  quality  of  Pennsylvania  streams  and 
lakes.” 

The  Fish  Commission’s  Bureau  of  Law  Enforcement  and  Environmental  Services 
Division  are  actively  involved  in  protection  of  the  Commonwealth’s  fragile  aquatic 
resources  through  their  law  enforcement  and  environmental  review  efforts. 

Many  of  the  Commission’s  current  goals  and  objectives  closely  match  the  basic 
Commonwealth  policies  designed  to  meet  the  recreational  needs  of  our  citizens.  The 
Commission  desires  to  expand  efforts  in  many  of  these  areas  to  serve  the  public  better 
and  to  protect  and  enhance  the  aquatic  resources  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Fishing  and  boating  recreation  are  important,  not  only  to  those  seeking  recreation 
and  leisure-time  activities,  but  to  the  economic  well-being  of  Pennsylvania.  Our 
programs  and  funding  efforts  need  the  continuing  support  of  the  fishermen  and  boaters 
who  enjoy  these  resources,  but  the  Commission  also  needs  and  deserves  the  support  of 
all  Commonwealth  citizens,  because  they  also  benefit  from  efforts  to  protect  our 
aquatic  resources  and  expand  and  improve  fishing  and  boating  recreational  activities. 


June  1988  Vol.  57  A 'o.  6 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 


Pennsylvania 


J. 


ER 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Pennsylvania's  Best  Campground  Fishing  by  Chris  Dolnack 
In  the  Keystone  State  you  can  combine  convenient  camping  and  good 
fishing 4 

What  Do  Anglers  Really  Know  About  Fish  Behavior? 

by  Ken  Hunter 

Underwater  observations  sometimes  cast  doubt  on  our  commonest 
beliefs 8 

Kids  Page  by  Steve  Ulsh 

This  month's  spotlight  is  on  a spelling  list  and  spools  on  spinning  and 
spincasting  reels 13 


Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Chairman 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 


Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff' Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street.  Harris- 
burg, PA.  17109. 1 1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted 
without  the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion. Subscription  rates:  one  year.  $6;  single  copies  are  $1 .50  each. 
Second  class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg.  PA  POSTMASTER: 
Send  address  changes  to  : Angler  Circulation.  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission.  P.O.  Box  1673.  Harrisburg.  PA  17105-1673.  For 
subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow 
six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The 
Editor.  Pennsylvania  Angler,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg.  PA  17105- 
1673.  Editorial  queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must 
be  accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material 
accepted  for  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  transit. 
The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


The  Golden  Oldies  by  Allen  G.  Eastby 
Traditional  dry  flies  of  yesterday  still  work  very,  very  well 14 

Rules  for  Walleye  by  R.  L.  Hoopes 
The  Fish  Commission  manages  our  walleye  according  to  certain 
scientific  principles 18 

A Bag  of  Bass  Fishing  Tricks  by  Mike  Bleech 
There’s  no  magic  here — just  great  fishing  ideas 22 


The  covers 

This  month’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Commission  Media  Relations 
Director  Dave  Wolf,  shows  his  wife  Merline  and  daughter  Autumn  finding 
that  "Fishing  is  Family  Fun"  at  Lake  Marburg  in  Codorus  State  Park. 

York  County.  For  more  details  on  how  to  enjoy  family  fishing,  please  see 
this  issue’s  back  cover  for  details  on  Fish-for-Free  Day,  June  25.  If  you’re 
a bass  fisherman,  you'll  want  to  scan  the  article  that  begins  on  page  22. 
and  in  the  article  starting  on  page  8,  you'll  find  different  ideas  on  bass 
fishing — concepts  that  may  surprise  you.  The  feature  that  starts  on  page  4 
details  some  22  Pennsylvania  hotspots  that  offer  terrific  camping  and 
fishing,  and  if  trout  fishing  is  your  passion,  the  article  on  page  14  may 
delight  you. 


Pennsylvania’s  Best 


by  Chris  Dolnack 

Camping  and  fishing  go  hand  in  hand. 
There  are  hundreds  of  waterways 
anglers  can  choose  and  most  have 
a campground  nearby.  Camping  is  an  eco- 
nomical way  to  explore  a new  fishing  hole 
and  it’s  a whole  lot  of  fun,  too. 

Tent  camping  doesn’t  require  a ton  of 
equipment,  although  there  is  certainly 
enough  offered  to  make  a stay  comforta- 
ble. Obviously  a tent  is  a good  start.  Be 
sure  to  get  one  large  enough  to  accom- 
modate your  gear  and  all  campers.  A 
groundcloth  under  the  tent  keeps  moisture 
from  seeping  into  the  tent  floor.  If  you 
aren’t  ready  to  make  the  financial  com- 
mitment of  buying  a tent,  one  can  be  rented 
from  most  rent-all  firms. 

A warm  sleeping  bag,  air  or  foam  mat- 
tress, lawn  chairs,  cook  stove,  lantern  fuel, 
flashlight,  utensils,  pots,  pans,  matches 
and  a cooler  round  out  a basic  outfit. 
Be  sure  to  set  the  tent  up  at  home  be- 
fore the  big  weekend.  This  eliminates 
any  surprises. 

You  will  be  on  your  own  for  the  du- 
ration of  the  outing,  so  take  at  least  one 
extra  rod  and  reel  combo  for  each  member 
of  the  party,  especially  if  children  are  in- 
cluded. Pack  a couple  of  extra  spools  of 
monofilament  line,  hooks,  splitshot,  bob- 
bers and  any  other  terminal  tackle  you 
might  need.  A hook  hone,  extra  bail  springs 
and  a small  fisherman’s  tool  kit  also  make 
an  angler’s  camp  life  easier. 

If  you  plan  to  take  a boat,  be  sure  to 
include  the  oars,  enough  personal  flotation 
devices,  an  anchor  with  rope,  bow  and 
stem  lights  and  a chain  to  secure  your  rig 
at  night  or  when  you’re  away  from  the 
campsite.  Most  common  sense  items  need 
to  be  checked  off  a list  because  you  will 
not  have  the  luxury  of  running  home 
for  forgotten  items  without  disrupting 
the  outing. 

Now  that  your  tackle  and  camping  gear 
are  in  order,  here  are  some  campsites  that 
offer  a unique  combination  of  good  an- 
gling and  camping. 

Northwest 

Presque  Isle  State  Park  is  located  on 
Presque  Isle  in  the  northwest  comer  of  the 
state.  Presque  Isle  Bay  offers  3,840  acres 
of  multi-species  angling  for  trout,  wall- 
eye, pickerel,  northern  pike,  muskel- 


lunge,  bluegills,  yellow  perch  and  crap- 
pies.  Sheltered  lagoons  are  ideal  for 
panfishing  with  youngsters. 

Campgrounds  include  the  Beach  Comb- 
er Campgrounds  on  Peninsula  Drive  with 
200  campsites  complete  with  water  and 
electric.  Sewer  is  available  on  150  of  the 
sites.  LP  gas,  laundry  facilities  and  snacks 
are  on  site  at  the  campground.  Contact  the 
Beach  Comber  at  814-833-4560. 

Cassidy’s  Presque  Isle  Campground  off 
Route  832  has  46  campsites  with  electric. 
Water  hook-ups  are  available  at  25  of  the 
sites  and  sewer  hook-up  at  12  of  the  sites. 
LP  gas  is  sold  at  the  office.  For  more 
information,  call  814-833-6035. 

For  a brochure  outlining  family  activ- 
ities, write  to:  Presque  Isle  State  Park, 
Department  of  Environmental  Resources, 
P.O.  Box  8510,  Erie,  PA  16505.  The  phone 
number  is  814-871-4251. 

Pymatuning  State  Park  is  located  off 
Route  322  at  the  southern  end  of  13,920- 
acre  Pymatuning  Reservoir  in  Crawford 
County.  The  reservoir  is  an  excellent  wall- 
eye and  crappie  fishery  with  an  accessible 
shoreline.  Pymatuning  State  Park  features 
832  campsites  with  picnic  areas. 

Numerous  launch  ramps  are  located 
around  the  lake  and  a lOhp  limit  must  be 
observed.  Crappie  fishing  peaks  around 
May  15  through  June  15.  For  more  in- 
formation on  camping  and  fishing  in  the 
park,  contact  the  Pymatuning  State  Park 
office  at  412-932-3141. 

Glendale  Lake  is  the  centerpiece  of 
Prince  Gallitzin  State  Park,  located  in 
northern  Cambria  County  off  Route  36 
near  the  town  of  Patton.  The  1,640-acre 
lake  is  famous  for  the  exotic  Amur  pike, 
but  it  also  holds  good  walleye,  bass  and 
panfish  populations.  Public  launch  ramps 
accommodate  boat  anglers,  but  a lOhp  limit 
is  in  effect.  Bait  and  groceries  are  avail- 
able in  nearby  Patton.  For  more  infor- 
mation, call  the  state  park  at  814-674-3691 . 

The  Allegheny  National  Forest  boasts 
the  12,000-acre  Kinzua  Dam  and  Alle- 
gheny River.  Trout,  bass,  walleye,  pike, 
muskies,  crappies  and  yellow  perch  are 
found  in  the  lake  and  river.  Shore  access 
is  limited,  but  a boat  livery  is  located  off 
Route  59.  Launching  ramps  are  scattered 
around  the  lake  and  there  are  no  horse- 
power restrictions. 

Over  730  campsites  are  found  around 
the  lake  in  18  different  camping  areas. 


Favorites  include  the  Red  Bridge,  Willow 
Bay,  Tracy  Ridge  and  Dewdrop  areas. 
Contact  the  Allegheny  National  Forest 
Headquarters  in  Sheffield  at  814-723-5150 
for  more  information. 

Southwest 

Moraine  State  Park  is  located  between 
Butler  and  New  Castle  off  Route  422  in 
Butler  County.  Renown  as  a largemouth 
bass  fishery,  3,225-acre  Lake  Arthur  of- 
fers 41  miles  of  shoreline  and  six  boat 
launching  ramps.  Boat  and  motor  rentals 
are  available  at  the  Pleasant  Valley  Day 
Use  Area. 

Bear  Run  Campground  in  nearby  Por- 
tersville  has  220  campsites.  Electric  and 
water  hook-ups  are  available  on  1 80  of  the 
sites  with  130  equipped  with  sewers. 
Laundry  facilities,  LP  gas  and  boat  rentals 
are  also  found  in  the  campground.  For 
more  information,  call  412-368-3564. 

Cooper’s  Lake  Campground  in  nearby 
Slippery  Rock  offers  96  campsites,  most 
with  water  and  electric  hook-ups.  There 


1.  Presque  Isle  State  Park 

2.  Pymatuning  State  Park 

3.  Glendale  Lake 

4.  Allegheny  National  Forest, 

Kinzua  Dam,  Allegheny  River 

5.  Moraine  State  Park 

6.  Youghiogheny  Reservoir 

7.  Laurel  Hill  State  Park 

8.  Trough  Creek  State  Park 

9.  Poe  Valley  State  Park,  Poe  Paddy 
State  Forest 

10.  Gifford  Pinchot  State  Park 

11.  Lake  Marburg 

12.  Pine  Grove  Furnace  State  Park 

13.  French  Creek  State  Park 

14.  Locust  Lake  State  Park 

15.  Ricketts  Glenn  State  Park 

16.  Promised  Land  State  Park 

17.  Bruce  Lake  Wilderness  Area 

18.  Tobyhanna  State  Park 

19.  Sinnemahoning  State  Park 

20.  Hills  Creek  State  Park 

21.  Tioga-Hammond  Lakes 

22.  Little  Pine  State  Park,  Little  Pine 
Creek,  Big  Pine  Creek 


4 June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


graphic— Ted  Walke 


Campground  Fishing 


is  an  approved  dump  station  in  the 
campground  as  well.  Call  412-368-8710 
for  reservations. 

The  Youghiogheny  Reservoir  is  a 2,840- 
acre  Corps  of  Engineers  impoundment  on 
the  Mason-Dixon  Line  in  Somerset  County. 
Smallmouth  bass  and  walleye  fishing  is 
excellent  with  good  panfish  angling  as  well. 

There  are  no  horsepower  limits  on  the 
reservoir,  making  it  popular  with  water 
skiers  and  pleasure  boaters.  Free  camp- 
sites are  maintained  by  the  Corps  of  En- 
gineers. For  more  information  on  the 
Youghiogheny  Dam,  call  the  Corps  of  En- 
gineers at  814-395-3242. 

A private  campground  is  also  located 
west  of  the  reservoir  near  Farmington. 
Benner’s  Meadow  Run  Camp  Resort 
has  175  campsites,  118  of  which  have 
water,  electric  and  sewer  hook-ups. 
Snacks,  laundry  and  LP  gas  are  available 
on  the  premises.  The  phone  number  is 
412-329-4097. 

Laurel  Hill  State  Park,  located  10  miles 
west  of  Somerset  off  Route  31,  is  in  the 


center  of  the  beautiful  Laurel  Highlands. 
Laurel  Hill  Lake  is  stocked  with  trout  and 
there  is  also  a population  of  largemouth 
bass.  Cheese,  worms  and  salmon  eggs  are 
popular  bait  choices  on  the  65-acre  lake. 
Laurel  Hill  Creek  is  also  stocked  by  the 
Fish  Commission. 

There  are  270  campsites  in  the  park 
and  a boat  launching  ramp  is  located  at 
the  north  end  of  the  lake.  Electric  motors 
are  permitted. 

Southcentral 

Trough  Creek  State  Park  is  located  off 
Route  994  on  the  east  shore  of  Raystown 
Lake  in  Huntingdon  County.  This  8,300- 
acre  lake  has  110  miles  of  shoreline  and 
numerous  coves  and  bays.  Bass,  trout,  pike, 
walleye,  muskellunge,  striped  bass  and 
panfish  are  caught  here.  There  are  30 
campsites  available  in  the  park.  You  can 
contact  the  park  office  at  814-658-3847. 

Two  boat-to-shore  camping  areas  on  the 
lake  are  maintained  by  the  Corps  of  En- 
gineers. No  horsepower  restrictions  are 


imposed  and  there  are  eight  boat  launch 
ramps  around  the  lake. 

Lake  Raystown  Resort,  located  off  Route 
994  near  Entriken,  has  250  campsites 
complete  with  water  and  electric  hook- 
ups. Snacks,  laundry,  boat  rentals  and  bait 
are  available  at  the  resort.  For  reservations 
and  more  information,  contact  the  resort 
at  814-658-3500. 

Pleasant  Hills  Resort  south  of  Hesston 
has  1 10  campsites,  72  with  water  and  elec- 
tric hook-ups.  Laundry  facilities  are  avail- 
able on-site.  Groceries  and  supplies  are 
sold  in  Huntingdon.  Call  814-658-3986 
for  more  information. 

Woodland  Camping  Resort  is  also  lo- 
cated south  of  Hesston.  It  has  75  campsites, 
sites,  with  58  having  water  and  electric 
hookups.  For  more  information  call 
814-658-3017. 

Poe  Valley  State  Park  and  Poe  Paddy 
State  Forest  along  the  Centre-Mifflin 
County  line  are  excellent  bases  from  which 
to  fish  Penns  Creek.  Famous  for  its  Green 
Drake  hatch,  Penns  Creek  also  holds  most 


SUSQUEHANNA 


(MAN 


BRADFORD 


WAYNE 


P0TTE8 


FOREST 


CAMERON 


.WVS/i 


SULLIVAN 


JEFFERSON 


LYCOMING 


CLINTON 


MONROE 


CLARION 


COLUMBIA 


LUZERNE 


ARMSTRONG 


\CARB0N 


NORTHUMBERLAND 


CLEARFIELD/  CENTRE 


SNYDER 


JUNIATA 


SCHUYLKILL 


DAUPHIN 


ALLEGHENY. 


LEBANON 


BUCKS 


WESTMORELAND 


HUNTINGDON 


CUMBERLAND 


MONTGOMERY 


LANCASTER 


FULTON 


FAYETTE 


FRANKLIN 


j BEDFORD 


Pennsylvania’s  Best  Campground  Fishing 


CRAWFQRQ 

*2 


WAIfiEs 


VENANGO 


MERCER 


LAWRENCE 


BEAVER 


\ NORTH  MPTON 
LEHIGH  < P V 


BUTLER 


WASHINGTON 


CHESTER  / V PHILADELPHIA 
— / DELAWARE 


June  1 988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


5 


warm  water  species.  April  through  June  is 
the  best  time  for  trout  action  on  the  creek 
using  flies  and  rigged  minnows. 

Signs  mark  the  way  to  Poe  Valley  from 
Route  322  between  Lewistown  and 
Potters  Mills.  Poe  Valley  State  Park  has 
70  campsites  and  there  are  an  additional 
45  campsites  in  Poe  Paddy  State  For- 
est, just  4 miles  east  of  the  park.  Con- 
tact the  park  office  at  814-349-8778  for 
more  information. 

Gifford  Pinchot  State  Park  is  located  off 
Route  177,  south  of  Lewisberry  in  north- 
ern York  County.  Bass,  pickerel,  mus- 
kellunge,  walleye  and  panfish  are  caught 
in  340-acre  Conewago  Lake.  Panfishing 
in  particular  is  excellent. 

Conewago  is  classified  as  a conserva- 
tion lake.  Special  regulations  for  this 
waterway  are  spelled  out  on  page  28  of 
the  Summary  of  Fishing  Regulations  and 
Laws  1988.' 

Boat  rentals  are  available  in  the  park 
and  electric  motors  only  are  permitted  on 
the  lake.  There  are  340  campsites  in  the 
park  with  picnic  areas  and  swimming.  For 
more  information,  contact  the  park  office 
at  717-432-5011. 

Lake  Marburg  is  a 1,275-acre  lake  lo- 
cated southeast  of  Hanover,  off  Route  2 1 6 
in  Codorus  State  Park.  Largemouth  bass, 
muskellunge,  pike,  trout,  walleye  and 
panrtsh  are  found  in  the  lake.  Yellow  perch 
and  trout  fishing  is  excellent  in  the  spring. 

There  are  198  campsites  and  a marina 
with  boat  rentals  in  the  park.  For  more 
information  on  camping  and  fishing  in  Co- 
dorus State  Park,  contact  the  park  office 
at  717-637-2816. 

Pine  Grove  Furnace  State  Park  is  lo- 
cated south  of  Carlisle  off  Route  34  in 
southern  Cumberland  County.  This  park 
is  one  of  the  most  scenic  in  the  southcen- 
tral region.  Laurel  Lake  is  stocked  with 
trout  and  also  holds  perch,  pickerel  and 
sunfish.  Laurel  Creek  also  receives  ample 
trout  stockings.  The  fabled  Yellow  Breeches 
Creek  is  just  north  of  the  park. 

There  are  74  campsites  in  the  park  and 
numerous  picnic  sites.  Boat  rentals  are 
available  from  the  opening  day  of  trout 
season  until  Labor  Day.  Electric  motors 
only  are  permitted  on  Laurel  Lake.  For 
more  information  you  can  reach  the  park 
office  at  717-486-7174. 

Southeast 

French  Creek  State  Park,  located  south 
of  Birdsboro  in  Berks  County,  offers  both 
warm  water  and  cool  water  fishing.  Hope- 
well  lake  has  good  largemouth  bass, 
pickerel  and  yellow  perch  fishing.  Scotts 


Run  Lake  is  liberally  stocked  with  trout. 
Both  lakes  have  a boat  launch  ramp,  al- 
though motors  are  restricted  to  electrics 
only.  Shore  access  is  relatively  easy  on 
both  waterways. 

Over  300  campsites  are  scattered 
throughout  the  park.  A swimming  pool  is 
located  at  the  Hopewell  Day  Use  Area  and 
Hopewell  Village  is  just  a short  hike  away. 
For  more  information,  contact  the  park 
office  at  215-582-1514. 

Locust  Lake  State  Park  is  south  of  Ma- 
hanoy  City  in  Schuylkill  County.  April 
and  May  are  prime  times  for  catching  trout 
on  live  minnows  from  the  52-acre  lake, 
lake.  Fly  fishermen  do  well  into  June. 
Locust  Lake  offers  fine  trout  angling  in  a 
wooded  setting. 

Nearby  Tuscarora  Lake  also  has  trout, 
along  with  good  largemouth  bass  and 
walleye  populations . A launch  ramp  is  open 
to  the  public  on  this  100-acre  lake. 

Locust  Lake  State  Park  features  282 
campsites.  Contact  the  park  office  at  717- 
467-7404. 

Northeast 

Ricketts  Glenn  State  Park  is  found  off 
Route  487,  north  of  Berwick  in  Luzerne 
County.  Bass,  muskellunge,  walleye  and 
panfish  are  caught  from  245-acre  Lake 
Jean.  A beach-type  launch  ramp  is  open 
to  the  public  and  electric  motors  only 
are  permitted. 

Ricketts  Glen  boasts  101  campsites  and 
the  Glens  Natural  Area.  Bring  your  own 
food  and  bait,  unless  you  do  not  mind  a 
45-minute  drive.  Call  717-477-5675  for 
more  information  on  camping  and  fishing 
in  the  park. 

Pike  County’s  Promised  Land  State  Park 
is  located  off  Route  390,  south  of  Lake 
Wallenpaupack.  The  park  features  422- 
acre  Promised  Land  Upper  Lake  and  1 65- 
acre  Lower  Lake.  Action  for  pickerel,  large- 
mouth bass  and  panfish  is  good  in  the 
park.  There  are  four  launch  ramps  around 
Promised  Land  Lake  and  one  located  on 
Lower  Lake. 

Promised  Land  State  Park  has  535 
campsites  throughout  the  park.  For  more 
information,  contact  the  park  office  at  717- 
676-3428. 

For  the  adventurous  there  is  the  Bruce 
Lake  Wilderness  Area  just  north  of  the 
park.  Bruce  Lake  holds  bass,  walleye, 
muskellunge,  pickerel  and  panfish. 
Reaching  the  lake  requires  a three-mile 
hike  off  Route  390.  Special  camping  per- 
mits are  available  from  the  park  office. 

Tobyhanna  State  Park  is  a convenient 
base  to  fish  Tobyhanna  Lake  and  nearby 


Gouldsboro  Lake.  The  park  is  located  off 
Route  423,  just  east  of  1-380.  Tobyhanna 
Lake  has  both  largemouth  and  smallmouth 
bass,  pickerel  and  panfish.  There  is  a nom- 
inal fee  for  launching  a boat  on  the  170- 
acre  lake. 

Nearby  Gouldsboro  Lake  off  Route  507 
is  a good  largemouth  bass  fishery  and  there 
are  also  pickerel  and  panfish.  Electric  mo- 
tors only  are  permitted. 

There  are  140  campsites  available  in 
Tobyhanna  State  Park.  The  park  office  can 
be  reached  at  717-894-8336. 

Northcentral 

Sinnemahoning  State  Park  in  Cameron 
County  is  located  off  Route  872  north  of 
the  town  of  Sinnemahoning.  The  George 
B.  Stevenson  Dam  is  stocked  with  trout 
and  offers  good  bass  fishing  and  spring 
crappie  action.  The  First  Fork  of  Sinne- 
mahoning Creek  feeds  and  exits  the  dam 
and  provides  good  trout  fishing. 

A launch  ramp  is  open  to  the  public  and 
electric  motors  only  are  permitted  on  the 
142-acre  lake.  For  more  information  on 
camping  and  fishing  in  the  park,  call  814- 
647-8401. 

Hills  Creek  State  Park  in  Tioga  County 
is  located  north  of  Wellsboro,  off  Route 
6.  Hills  Creek  Lake  covers  137  surface 
acres  and  holds  largemouth  bass,  mus- 
kellunge, walleye  and  panfish.  Summer 
and  fall  are  the  best  times  for  fishing,  mak- 
ing Hills  Creek  ideal  for  campers. 

There  are  two  launch  ramps  on  the 
lake.  Boats  may  be  propelled  by  electric 
motors  only.  Boat  rentals  are  available  for 
a modest  fee. 

The  Tioga-Hammond  Lakes  are  near- 
by and  offer  680  acres  of  warmwater  an- 
gling. Crappie  fishing  is  good  into  early 
summer.  Walleye,  largemouth  bass  and 
muskies  provide  thrills  for  those  seeking 
larger  fish.  Launch  ramps  are  located  at  the 
upper  end  of  either  lake  and  there  are  no 
horsepower  restrictions  on  this  Corps  of 
Engineers  project. 

Hills  Creek  State  Park  has  1 10  camp- 
sites and  supplies  can  be  obtained  in  nearby 
Wellsboro.  To  contact  the  park  office,  call 
717-724-4246. 

Little  Pine  State  Park  in  Lycoming 
County  offers  lake,  small  stream  and  large 
stream  fishing.  Located  off  Route  44  north 
of  Jersey  Shore,  the  park  has  something 
for  everyone  in  a relaxing  setting.  Little 
Pine  Dam  is  stocked  with  trout  and  also 
harbors  bass,  pickerel  and  panfish.  A launch 
ramp  is  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  90- 
acre  impoundment  and  boats  are  restricted 
to  electric  motors  only. 


6 June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


j ^ 

I 

• j 

L 

L; 

Russ  Gettig 


Little  Pine  Creek  is  stocked  with  trout 
by  the  Fish  Commission  for  14  miles.  Big 
Pine  Creek  is  also  stocked  with  trout, 
opening  40  miles  of  streams  to  the  pub- 
lic. Smallmouth  bass  fishing  is  excellent 
during  the  summer  months  and  walleye 
and  pickerel  are  also  caught  from  Big 
Pine  Creek. 

Route  44  parallels  Big  Pine  Creek  and 
the  scenery  of  the  Pine  Creek  Gorge  is 
beautiful.  There  are  1 10  campsites  in  the 
park.  For  more  information  on  camping 
in  Little  Pine  State  Park,  contact  the  park 
office  at  717-738-8209. 

If  the  park  is  full.  Happy  Acres  Camp- 
ground is  located  just  south  of  the  park. 
There  are  150  sites  here,  100  of  which 
have  electrical  hook-up  and  75  with  water 
and  sewer.  Boat  rentals  are  also  available 
in  season.  To  contact  Happy  Acres  Camp- 
ground, call  717-753-8221.  [pa] 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


What  Do  Anglers  Really  Know 


by  Ken  Hunter 

I'll  never  forget  my  first  really  big  bass. 
A friend  and  I were  fishing  the  old  B & 

0 Dam,  now  owned  by  the  Fish  Com- 
mission and  known  as  Kyle  Lake,  Jeffer- 
son County.  We  were  tossing  black  and 
silver  floating  Rapalas  in  one  of  the  stump 
fields  at  one  end  of  the  lake  when  suddenly 
the  water  boiled  and  my  lure  disappeared. 

1 knew  I was  into  a good  fish  as  soon  as 
it  made  the  first  hard  run  and  then  tried 
to  lift  its  bulging  belly  clear  of  the  surface. 
After  a tough  battle  1 landed  the  brute  and 
was  soon  on  my  way  home  to  show  off 
what  turned  out  to  be  a 5|-pound,  21 -inch 
largemouth  bass. 

1 was  in  high  school  when  I landed  that 
bass.  That  was  over  20  years  ago.  and 
I've  been  nuts  about  fishing  ever  since. 

Like  so  many  others,  when  they  are  first 
bitten  by  the  fishing  bug,  I read  everything 
I could  get  my  hands  on.  I was  a sponge 
absorbing  every  bit  of  information  I could 
find  on  how  to  catch  fish  and  where  to 
find  them.  In  those  early  years  anything  I 
read  I accepted  as  gospel.  It  was  as  if  the 
written  word  were  carved  in  stone,  and 
therefore  must  be  the  absolute  truth. 

Questionable  theories 

Possibly  it’s  a result  of  my  being  over 
40  now  or  maybe  it  was  the  fact  that  I 
attended  college  in  the  1960s,  but  my 
thinking  has  taken  an  about-face — I now 
question  everything  I read,  especially  re- 
garding where  the  fish  are  and  why  they 
are  supposed  to  be  there.  Maybe  some  of 
the  "facts”  that  have  been  embedded  into 
our  thinking  for  so  long  aren't  facts  at  all, 
but  rather  just  theories  based  on  erroneous 
information.  Until  recently,  much  of  what 
we  learned  about  fish  behavior  was  based 
on  what  fishermen  said  about  their  catches. 
Failure  to  catch  fish  in  a given  area  was 
often  justified  by  saying  that  the  fish  had 
moved  to  a more  desirable  location. 

Take,  for  example,  that  giant  bass  I 
caught.  There  is  nothing  terribly  unusual 
about  catching  a large  bass  in  shallow  water 
near  good  cover  with  a minnow-type  lure. 
What  is  interesting,  though,  is  that  such 
a sizable  bass  was  in  only  three  feet  of 


water  at  noon  in  early  July.  It  was  a bright, 
sunny  day  with  temperatures  in  the  high 
80s,  and  hardly  a breeze.  Even  the  water 
felt  warm  to  the  touch.  I remembered 
all  the  details  of  that  day,  because  accord- 
ing to  everything  I read  and  heard  about 
fish  behavior,  that  fish  wasn’t  supposed  to 
be  there. 


Should  you  question  some  of  the 
time-honored  fishing  stutegies  when 
your  observations  suggest 
otherwise? 


8 June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Russ  Gettig 


About  Fish  Behavior? 


1\  JIMi  f-j--  & 

riTwinr  hi 

trill 

!*•>■<  srr 

The  author,  a scuba  diver, 
observed  this  hefty  largemouth  bass 
(inset  photo)  over  the  course  of 
several  days. 


That  bass  should  have  made  tracks  for 
deeper,  darker,  cooler  water  during  mid- 
day, and  then  returned  after  dark  to  feed 
in  the  shallows.  Apparently  the  bass  hadn’t 
read  the  same  material  we  fishermen  had 
been  saturated  with  for  so  many  years. 

Over  the  years,  similar  episodes  have 
occurred  frequently  enough  with  my  fish- 


ing companions  and  me  to  cast  even  greater 
doubts  on  some  of  our  strongest-held  be- 
liefs. How  many  times  have  you  read  in 
a magazine  or  book  or  heard  that  bass 
relocate  on  a daily  basis  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  leaving  the  shallows  in  the 
morning  to  avoid  the  bright  sun  and  warmer 
temperatures,  and  then  returning  in  the 
evening  to  feed  again?  And  what  about  so 
many  other  canons  that  govern  our  fishing 
habits?  For  example,  bass  avoid  shallow, 
clear  water  because  their  eyes  are  sensitive 
to  bright  sunlight.  Bass  are  always  found 
near  some  kind  of  cover  or  structure.  And 
what  about  the  statement  that  a cold  front 
came  through  and  drove  the  fish  to  deeper 
water  and  forced  them  off  their  feeding 
binge? 

Explanations 

In  recent  years,  my  doubts  have  blos- 
somed into  questions.  As  a wildlife  artist, 
my  underwater  activities  have  increased 
dramatically  because  of  my  increased  de- 
sire to  research  and  photograph  fish  for 
future  paintings  and  illustrations.  I don't 
pretend  to  have  developed  any  long-range 
scientific  studies  that  could  answer  all  the 
questions,  but  I have  made  some  inter- 
esting observations  that  contradict  much 
of  our  thinking  about  bass  behavior. 
Sometimes  1 find  myself  spending  more 
time  in  the  underwater  world  photograph- 
ing and  studying  fish  than  trying  to  catch 
them. 

This  past  summer  I spent  a week  on  a 
deep,  clear  lake  with  a variety  of  structure 
and  cover  types.  The  lake  held  the  usual 
species  of  panfish  plus  largemouth  and 
smallmouth  bass.  I decided  1 would  do 
little,  if  any,  fishing  the  entire  week  be- 
cause my  main  purpose  at  the  lake  was  to 
study  and  photograph  the  inhabitants.  Such 
a decision  surely  casts  considerable  doubt 
on  my  ability  to  think  in  a rational  manner, 
but  I was  not  merely  practicing  this  self- 
denial  as  some  form  of  punishment,  but 
rather  in  the  name  of  sincere  research. 

I made  five  dives  that  week  and  logged 
almost  eight  hours  of  bottom  time.  It  was 
during  the  hot  “dog  days”  of  August.  One 
of  my  most  surprising  discoveries  came 
on  my  first  dive  while  I was  in  less  than 
10  feet  of  water.  1 was  diving  on  a sub- 
merged wooden  pier-like  structure  about 
15  feet  square  and  about  five  feet  high. 

9 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


The  author' s scuba  diving 
partner  Randy  Harrison 
(right)  feeds  panfish  right 
out  of  his  hand.  Fish  are 
often  curious  about  divers 
and  seldom  flee,  making 
observation  much  easier. 

A curious  largemouth  bass 
(above)  checks  out  the 
author  during  a dive. 


10  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


I have  observed  plenty  of  bass  swimming 
slowly  through  clear , open  water  on  bright , 
sunny  days . 


Largemouth  bass — aggressive  and  mystifying.  What  does  your  experience  tell  you 
when  you  compare  it  to  the  conventional  wisdom?  Could  you  fish  in  other  places 
using  different  methods  to  up  your  score?  What  would  happen  if  you  tried  some 
new  strategies  in  your  favorite  bass  spots? 


The  structure  was  filled  nearly  to  the  top 
with  large  rocks.  As  I peered  over  the  top 
of  the  structure,  I was  greeted  by  the  sight 
of  a largemouth  bass  of  rather  healthy  pro- 
portions only  a couple  of  feet  away.  The 
bass  was  only  five  feet  from  the  surface, 
hovering  just  over  the  rocks  in  bright  sun- 
light. Four  more  times  that  week  I visited 
the  same  location  and  by  the  end  of  the 
week  that  bass  and  I were  calling  each 
other  by  our  first  names. 

I observed  that  bass  at  a different  time 
each  day.  Several  different  weather  pat- 
terns came  and  went  through  the  course 
of  the  week,  including  hot,  calm,  sunny 
days  followed  by  cool,  windy,  rainy 
weather  back  to  bright,  warm  weather.  I 
don't  think  that  bass  ever  moved  away 
from  that  spot  the  entire  week. 

The  bass,  in  fact,  rarely  moved  more 
than  10  feet  from  the  spot  where  I origi- 
nally found  him.  The  fish  was  apparently 
completely  unaffected  by  changing  weather 
patterns  and  light  conditions. 

I did  not  observe  the  bass  at  night.  This 
occasion  was  not  the  first  time  1 have  ob- 
served good-sized  bass  in  shallow,  rela- 
tively clear  water  during  midsummer  on 
bright,  warm  days.  I have  frequently 
watched  bass  swim  in  and  out  of  sub- 
merged weedbeds  or  suspend  just  over  the 
tops  of  weeds  in  water  less  than  10  feet 
deep  during  the  hottest  days  of  summer. 
Obviously,  observing  or  catching  bass  in 
these  areas  during  midday  in  midsummer 
and  hot  weather  does  not  mesh  well  with 
the  myth  or  incomplete  infomiation  that 
bass  travel  daily  to  deep  water  under  these 
conditions. 

Deep  dives 

During  the  same  July  and  August  days 
that  I observed  big  bass  in  relatively  shal- 
low water,  I also  descended  into  deeper 
water  (30  to  60  feet)  and  discovered  bass 
holding  in  these  areas  as  w'ell.  It  was  not 
necessarily  true  that  there  were  more  bass 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


11 


The  world  of  fish  and  the  art  of  fishing  are 
too  complex  to  be  reduced  to  handfuls  of 
simple , flippant  answers . 


in  the  deeper  water,  either.  To  confuse  the 
issue  even  further,  while  I intently  studied 
one  fish,  several  more  seemed  to  mater- 
ialize from  the  green  mist  around  me,  and 
then  after  satisfying  their  curiosity,  they 
disappeared  slowly  into  the  distance. 

So  what  does  all  this  mean  to  the 
fisherman?  For  one  thing,  we  may  have 
to  allow  a lot  more  room  for  variations  of 
behavior  even  within  the  same  species.  It 
is  no  longer  sufficient  to  say  that  there  is 
a wholesome  movement  of  bass  to  deeper 
water  during  the  day  and  then  back  to 
shallow  water  at  night  to  feed.  I’m  be- 
coming increasingly  convinced  that  the 
daily  mass  fish  migrations,  especially  bass 
moving  between  deep  and  shallow  water, 
have  no  basis  whatsoever,  and  in  fact, 
probably  do  not  occur  at  all. 

It  appears  to  me  that  some  bass,  even 
larger  ones,  may  spend  days,  weeks,  maybe 
even  months  in  shallow  water  during  the 
hottest  days  of  summer.  Others  may  spend 
their  lifetimes  in  deeper  water.  Seldom,  if 
ever,  do  they  migrate  to  shallow  water.  The 
only  exception  is  to  spawn.  These  bass 
may  tend  to  be  territorial,  never  straying 
from  their  home  range.  On  the  other  hand, 
another  segment  of  the  bass  population 
may  tend  to  be  more  transient,  always  on 
the  move,  but  not  necessarily  in  and  out 
of  deep  water. 

Since  making  these  observations  I have 
read  of  other  studies  that  support  this  line 
of  thinking.  In  one  study,  bass  tagged  with 
small  electronic  transmitters  were  found 
to  make  few  major  depth  changes.  They 
often  suspended  over  deep  water  away  from 
any  kind  of  cover  and  frequented  areas 
exposed  to  sunlight.  The  same  study  re- 
vealed that  bass  have  a much  greater  ten- 
dency to  move  along  breaklines  or  contour 
lines  rather  than  directly  to  and  from  deep 
water. 

Cover  story 

I’m  not  suggesting  that  bass  never  mi- 
grate because  I believe  that  there  is  a cer- 
tain amount  of  seasonal  movement,  which 
is  especially  evident  during  the  spawning 
period.  But  based  on  my  own  limited  ob- 
servations and  the  more  detailed  studies 
now  being  done,  there  is  little  support  for 

12  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


the  daily  mass  movements  that  have  been 
accepted  for  so  long. 

As  far  as  cover  is  concerned,  every  fish- 
erman knows  that  bass  are  found  in  or 
near  cover.  It  also  appears  that  those  in- 
dividual bass  that  have  chosen  to  relate  to 
some  form  of  cover  or  structure  are  cau- 
tious about  moving  too  far  from  their  lo- 
cations. These  cover-related  fish  seem  to 
be  quite  content  to  sit  tight. 

At  the  same  time,  however,  there  ap- 
pears to  be  a significant  number  of  bass 
committed  to  roaming  about  the  only  oc- 
casional stops  near  cover.  A possible  ex- 
planation why  some  bass  wander  while 
others  stake  out  claims  in  prime  locations 
might  simply  be  that  all  the  best  spots  are 
taken,  thus  forcing  a certain  number  of 
bass  to  “wander  in  the  wilderness  waiting 
to  enter  the  promised  land.” 

In  addition,  I have  observed  plenty  of 
bass  swimming  slowly  through  clear,  open 
water  on  bright,  sunny  days.  These  bass 
demonstrated  no  negative  affinity  for  the 
light  penetrating  the  water,  in  spite  of  the 
notion  that  bass  are  supposed  to  be  sen- 
sitive to  light. 

I’m  not  sure  what  the  word  “sensitive” 
means.  Does  it  mean  that  the  bass  feels 
discomfort  or  even  pain  when  the  pene- 
trating light  strikes  its  eyes?  Does  the  light 
blind  the  bass  or  even  hinder  its  ability  to 
see?  I am  not  aware  of  any  studies  that 
would  provide  a positive  answer  or  even 
a maybe  to  these  questions.  In  fact,  I don’t 
think  there  is  any  hard  evidence  that  bass 
are  sensitive  to  light,  and  certainly  my 
own  underwater  observations  have  not  in- 
dicated such. 

Changes 

Each  time  I enter  the  alien  domain  of 
the  fish,  it  becomes  increasingly  evident 
to  me  that  they  live  in  a static  world.  This 
is  especially  true  of  a lake  or  pond.  The 
outside  stimuli  of  man’s  world  are  con- 
stantly changing  on  a yearly  basis,  from 
day  to  day  and  even  from  hour  to  hour. 
Changes  can  occur  rapidly  and  man  and 
beast  alike  must  be  prepared  to  adjust  rap- 
idly to  those  changes.  Within  minutes  the 
sun  can  peak  out  from  behind  the  clouds, 
causing  a glare  on  the  water.  The  fisher- 


man can  quickly  adjust  to  the  annoying 
glare  by  putting  on  sunglasses.  A 10-de- 
gree  drop  in  temperature  can  occur  be- 
tween noon  and  that  same  evening,  and 
again  the  fisherman  must  adjust  by  simply 
slipping  on  another  garment. 

But  we  must  remember  that  change 
comes  much  more  slowly  underwater,  and 
the  changes  are  far  less  radical  once  be- 
neath the  surface.  Because  “weather  pat- 
terns” underwater  are  so  constant  and 
change  so  slowly,  it  follows  that  fish  life 
would  also  be  much  slower  to  react. 

I have  often  heard  fishermen  say  that 
because  the  barometric  pressure  fell,  the 
fishing  would  be  poor.  I immediately 
question  this  line  of  thinking.  The  chang- 
ing barometric  pressure  has  nothing  to  do 
with  water  pressure.  The  pressure  on  a 
fish  is  the  same  at  10  feet  today  as  it  was 
yesterday  and  the  day  before.  As  long  as 
that  fish  remains  at  10  feet,  the  pressure 
will  remain  constant.  The  point  is  that  we 
fishermen  must  not  be  too  quick  to  apply 
our  reactions  to  our  changing  environment 
to  the  fish  and  their  not-so-changing  en- 
vironment. 

It  is  important  that  I not  be  too  general 
with  my  statements  lest  I fall  into  the  same 
trap  of  the  very  people  whose  thinking  I 
question.  This  discussion  has  thus  far  been 
limited  to  largemouth  and  smallmouth  bass 
living  in  standing  bodies  of  water.  These 
same  species  may  or  may  not  react  dif- 
ferently when  found  in  streams  or  rivers. 
The  underwater  observations  and  possible 
conclusions  mentioned  here  are  basically 
limited  to  the  daily  migrations  of  bass, 
their  use  of  cover  and  structure,  their  re- 
action to  sunlight  and  their  reaction  to 
changing  weather  fronts.  There  are  other 
variables  that  fish  react  to,  such  as  water 
clarity,  temperature,  the  pH  of  the  water, 
oxygen  levels  and  water  currents. 

Because  I have  observed  bass  behaving 
in  a given  manner,  this  does  not  imply 
that  all  species  of  fish  behave  in  the  same 
manner  if  given  the  same  set  of  circum- 
stances. Indeed,  there  may  even  be  dif- 
ferences in  behavioral  patterns  within  the 
same  species. 

Although  I have  logged  many  hours  un- 
derwater observing  fish  behavior,  I have 
barely  scratched  the  surface.  It’s  entirely 
possible  that  I have  raised  more  questions 
than  I have  answers.  One  thing  I am  sure 
of  is  that  the  world  of  the  fish  and  the  art 
of  fishing  are  too  complex  to  be  reduced 
to  handfuls  of  simple,  flippant  answers.  If 
this  were  not  so,  the  “experts”  would 
never  have  a poor  day  of  fishing,  and  who 
could  possibly  boast  of  that?  [pa] 


illustration— Ted  WaJke 


by  Steve  Ulsh 


Fish  Spelling  List 


Listed  below  are  1 0 
kinds  of  fish  found  in 
Pennsylvania  waters. 

In  each  you  will  find 
two  letters  in  their 
proper  places.  On  the 
right  are  the  remaining 
letters.  Put  them  in 
their  proper  places  to 
spell  the  word 
correctly.  See  how 
many  you  can  do.  The 
example  shows  you 
how  it  is  done. 


EXAMPLE: 


T 

U Answer:  TROUT 

1. 

G L LLBIEU 

2. 

M N 

WONI 

3. 

M 

S PPEEUKIND 

4. 

P 1 EPRCA 

5. 

BO 

NIWF 

6. 

L 

E ALYEW 

7. 

H E LULBDA 

8. 

S 

0 NMLA 

9. 

K B SSOARC 

10. 

H 1 

SENR 

Spools  on  spinning  or  spincasting  reels  must  be  loaded  properly  to  work  efficiently.  Spool  No.  1 
is  properly  loaded,  just  to  the  rim  or  lip.  Spool  No.  2 is  overloaded  and  the  line  can  slip  behind 
the  spool.  Spool  No.  3 is  underloaded  and  will  greatly  reduce  the  length  of  the  cast  and 
sometimes  produce  insufficient  line  to  handle  a big  fish. 


| ^ ' "i' f ' fi uni fi iif'W|if||]| 


Answers: 

1.  bluegill 

2.  minnow 

3.  pumpkinseed 

4.  crappie 

5.  bowfin 

6.  walleye 

7.  bullhead 

8.  salmon 

9.  rock  bass 

10.  shiner 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


The  Golden  Oldies 

by  Allen  G.  Eastby 


Let’s  face  it:  Among  trout-chasing  tiy 
rodders,  the  nymph  is  triumphant.  On 
streams  these  days,  legions  of  anglers  are 
doing  the  nymph  dance,  and  virtually  every 
magazine  features  at  least  one  article  on 
nymph  patterns,  nymph  tactics,  or  nymph 
tackle.  Sometimes  is  seems  as  if  trout  fish- 
ing has  become  nymphing,  nothing  but 
nymphing.  There  are  reasons  for  this — 
good  ones.  Nymphs  are  effective  trout 
takers;  the  fish  do  relish  them.  Tying 
nymphs  is  also  relatively  simple,  in  most 
cases.  But  isn’t  it  about  time  a voice  was 
raised  in  praise  of  the  dry  fly? 

Of  course,  dry  flies  do  get  coverage. 
But  it  is  always  the  “new,”  “innovative” 
and  “revolutionary”  dries  that  are  men- 
tioned in  magazines.  What  has  become  of 
the  classics?  Of  the  Quill  Gordons,  Hen- 
dricksons, and  Red  Quills?  When  do  we 
read  about  Preston  Jennings’  American 
March  Brown  or  Art  Flick’s  version  of  the 
Gray  Fox?  What  about  the  flies  our  fathers 
swore  by  (and  once  in  a while  swore  at)? 
As  long  as  the  dry  fly  is  a “no-hackle- 
compara-sidewinder- wonderwing”  with  a 
double  split  tail  and  an  extended  body  of 
extruded,  polymerized,  colorized  fiber  with 
a refractive  index  of  .07,  it  finds  a place 


in  fly  boxes  and  on  magazine  pages.  What 
about  a perfectly  balanced,  nicely  tied, 
traditional  dry  fly? 

Classical  dry  fly  patterns,  especially  those 
of  the  so-called  “Catskill  school,”  have 
been  helping  anglers  beguile  fish  longer 
than  most  of  us  have  been  alive.  But  in  a 
frenzied  rush  to  be  part  of  the  chic  and 
trendy  “cutting  edge”  of  fly  rodding,  they 
are  overlooked  by  too  many  fly  fishermen. 
It’s  a pity  because  these  flies  work,  and 
work  well.  Day  in  and  day  out,  season 
after  season,  the  old-style  dries  fool  trout. 

April  may  well  be  the  nymph  fisher- 
man’s month  of  glory.  Streams  are  cold 
and  sometimes  high  and  discolored.  But 
even  when  snow  flurries  whip  around  your 
shoulders,  dry  flies  can  be  effective.  Now- 
adays, however,  the  handful  of  anglers 
who  fish  the  dry  fly  in  April  are  likely  to 
use  caddis  imitations,  midges,  and  small 
blue-winged  olives  instead  of  Quill  Gor- 
dons, Hendricksons,  and  Red  Quills.  Given 
the  changes  that  have  taken  place  in  most 
of  our  streams  over  the  last  quarter-cen- 
tury, especially  the  decline  in  mayfly  pop- 
ulations, these  are  probably  wise  choices. 
But  to  face  one  of  the  increasingly  infre- 
quent Ephemerella  subvaria  hatches  with- 
out a proper  Red  Quill  is  asking  too  much. 
There  has  never  been  and  will  never  be  a 
better  imitation  of  E.  subvaria. 

The  old  patterns  are  still  good  early  in 
the  season,  but  only  when  days  lengthen 
and  grow  wanner  do  they  truly  come  into 
their  own.  From  mid-May  until  the  first 
frosts  of  autumn,  the  “golden  oldies”  are 
among  the  best  flies  an  angler  can  use. 

Gray  Fox 

Starting  in  the  middle  of  May  and  run- 
ning until  the  end  of  June  is  the  season  of 
the  Gray  Fox.  During  these  weeks,  the 
Gray  Fox  is  the  single  best  fly  an  angler 
can  knot  onto  the  business  end  of  a leader. 
Preston  Jennings  originated  this  fly,  and 
the  late  Art  Flick  perfected  it. 

Not  only  is  the  Gray  Fox  a first-rate 
imitation  of  two  important  mayflies  ( Sten - 
onema  vicarium  and  Stenonema  fuscwn). 


but  it  is  also  a fine  fly  for  “searching  the 
water”  when  no  fish  are  seen  rising.  Fur- 
thermore, it  is  an  easy  fly  to  see  in  the 
poor  light  of  evening  or  in  the  broken 
water  of  a swift  reach  of  river  or  creek. 
In  addition,  when  tied  in  the  smaller  sizes 
(16  and  18),  it  is  particularly  attractive  to 
trout  feeding  on  the  small,  light-colored 
mayflies  of  various  species  that  emerge  on 
late  spring  evenings.  It  will  also  take  trout 
that  have  focused  their  attention  on  the 
caddis,  often  seen  flitting  over  the  stream 
during  the  mid-moming  hours. 

Light  Cahill 

Every  bit  as  effective  as  the  Gray  Fox 
is  the  greatest  of  the  classic  patterns,  the 
Light  Cahill.  At  one  time  this  was  the  fly 
everyone  carried.  But  today  it  suffers  from 
a partial  eclipse.  Its  honored  place  in  the 
fly  box  has  been  taken  by  other  flies  and 
it’s  rare  to  find  an  angler  who  still  uses 
this  pattern.  Why  this  happened  is  difficult 
to  determine  because  the  Light  Cahill  can 
take  trout  from  the  first  week  in  May  until 
the  fly  rod  is  packed  away  for  the  winter. 

Like  the  Gray  Fox,  the  Light  Cahill 
imitates  a large  number  of  mayflies  and  is 
often  mistaken  by  the  trout  for  a caddis 
fly.  It  is  also  a good  pattern  to  select  when 
“fishing  the  water.”  However,  while  the 
Gray  Lox  quickly  loses  its  effectiveness 
as  spnng  becomes  summer,  the  Light  Cahill 
remains  useful,  indeed  vital,  during  July 
and  August. 

But  even  if  the  Light  Cahill  was  scorned 
by  trout  (which  it  most  definitely  isn’t), 
there  is  still  something  to  be  said  for  using 
a fly  that  can  trace  its  origins  back  to  the 
imagination  and  fly  tying  vice  of  Theodore 
Gordon,  one  of  the  founders  of  American 
fly  fishing. 

Dun,  Cream  variants 

The  Gray  Fox  and  the  Light  Cahill  are 
perfect  examples  of  the  classic  style  of 
tying  the  dry  fly.  They  have  jaunty  upright 
wings,  natural  fur  bodies,  and  full  hackle. 
But  the  fly  fishermen  who  developed  these 
patterns  were  not  slaves  to  fashion.  They 
could  and  did  experiment.  Lrequently  they 
failed.  But  once  in  a while  they  came  up 
with  flies  that  did  all  that  was  asked  of 
them,  even  if  they  didn’t  fit  the  conven- 
tional mold.  Unfortunately,  the  best  of  these 
unusual  patterns  have  fallen  to  disuse,  no- 
tably Art  Llick’s  Dun  Variant  and  Cream 
Variant. 


14  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration — Ted  Walke 


Allen  G.  Eastby 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


15 


These  patterns,  or  rather  the  “style"  of 
tying  they  incorporate,  enjoyed  a brief  flare 
of  popularity  some  years  ago.  But  the  con- 
cept of  the  variant  has  since  been  repu- 
diated by  the  writers  who  launched  the  all- 
too-short-lived  “variant  renaissance." 

These  flies  were  originally  designed  to 
match  specific  hatches  appearing  rela- 
tively late  in  the  season  (Memorial  Day 
through  the  Fourth  of  July).  And  this  they 
still  do.  The  Dun  Variant  should  be  the 
standard  against  which  all  patterns  mim- 
icing  the  Isonychia  species  of  mayflies  are 
judged,  and  the  Cream  Variant  will  do  the 
job  when  pale-colored  mayflies  are  emerg- 
ing. But  their  true  worth  can't  be  appre- 
ciated until  they  are  used  to  “fish  the  water” 
and  “pound  up”  trout  that  are  not  actively 
feeding. 

All  too  often  these  days  fly  rodders  reach 
the  stream  only  to  find  the  trout,  and  the 
mayflies  and  caddis  flies,  on  strike.  Faced 
with  this  situation,  most  anglers  reach  for 
the  nymph  box.  It’s  a conditioned  reflex, 
like  a dog  trained  to  salivate  at  the  sound 
of  a bell  or  the  flash  of  a light.  And  it 
does  work.  Every  fly  fisher  has  “dredged 
up”  trout  with  weighted  stone  fly  nymphs. 
But  when  they  pass  up  the  chance  to  use 
the  classic  dry  flies,  anglers  only  cheat 
themselves. 

There  is  something  positively  poetic 
about  a Light  Cahill  or  Dun  Variant  danc- 
ing with  the  current.  It  is  also  easy  fishing. 
An  angler  can  see  the  fly  at  all  times,  and 
the  rise  is  visible,  too. 

Furthermore,  fishing  the  water  with  one 
of  these  patterns  is  the  best  way  to  learn 
how  to  use  the  dry  fly  properly.  The  ef- 
fects of  wind  and  water,  why  drag  sets  in 
and  how  to  avoid  it,  and  the  favorite  lairs 
and  lies  of  trout  are  all  readily  discovered. 
A few  days  spent  “fishing  the  water”  also 
teaches  an  angler  a great  deal  about  the 
stream.  And  of  course,  if  one  of  the  golden 
oldies  is  tied  to  the  leader,  there  is  no  need 
to  worry  about  selecting  the  right  fly. 

The  traditional  dry  fly  patterns  of  yes- 
terday do  still  work.  Day  in,  day  out,  they 
produce  trout,  as  they  have  been  doing  for 
generations.  And  they'll  still  be  fooling 
trout  long  after  we’ve  all  gone  to  the  catch- 
and-release  stream  beyond  the  far  moun- 
tains, unless  they  are  forgotten,  consigned 
to  the  back  storage  shelf  in  a fly  fishing 
museum,  because  we  were  blinded  by  our 
quest  to  be  fashionable.  Should  that  hap- 
pen, we  fly  fishermen  and  our  sport  will 
be  so  much  the  poorer.  But  the  trout  will 
cheer  because  all  they’ll  have  to  contend 
with  are  nymphs,  super-system-streamers 
and  salmon  eggs.  1 Pfti 

16  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Day  in  and  day  out , the  traditional 
dry  flies  of  yesterday  still  work  on 
today's  trout  (left).  Fishing  the 
golden  oldies  might  also  give  the 
fish  a glimpse  of  patterns  they 
haven’t  seen  too  often. 


A Selection 
of  Golden  Oldies 

Gray  Fox  Hook:  Standard  dry  fly,  sizes 
12  through  18 
Thread:  Yellow 

Wings:  Mallard  flank  feather  fibers 
Body:  Red  fox  fur,  light  creamy  tan 
Hackle:  Grizzly  wound  over  light 
ginger 

Tail:  Light-ginger  hackle  fibers 

Light  Cahill 

Hook:  Standard  dry  fly,  sizes  12 
through  18 
Thread:  Yellow 

Wings:  Woodduck  (or  imitation)  flank 
feather  fibers 

Body:  Red  fox  fur,  very  pale  cream 

Hackle:  Light  ginger 

Tail:  Light-ginger  hackle  fibers 

Dun  Variant 

Hook:  Short  shank  or  standard  dry  fly, 
sizes  12  through  16 
Thread:  Olive 
Wings:  None 

Body:  Striped  dark  ginger  hackle  quill 
Hackle:  Dark  dun,  oversized 
Tail:  Dark  dun  hackle  fibers 

Cream  Variant 

Hook:  Short  shank  or  standard  dry  fly, 
sizes  12  through  18 
Thread:  Yellow 
Wings:  None 

Body:  Striped  cream  hackle  quill 
Hackle:  Cream,  oversized 
Tail:  Cream  hackle  fibers 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


17 


Rules  for  Walleye 


by  R.  L.  Hoopes 


The  walleye  is  one  of  Pennsylvania’s  na- 
tive species.  It’s  been  here  since  before 
the  coming  of  European  settlers,  since  be- 
fore the  Indians  and  at  least  since  the  gla- 
ciers. Walleye  as  a native  species  occur 
throughout  Pennsylvania's  three  major  river 
basins  on  a self-sustaining  basis.  Through 

natural  rv=»nmrli  lr'tinn  in  tV»p»ir  Qnnnal  lifip 


Joe  Workoskv 


cycle,  walleye  replenish  themselves.  The 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission’s  respon- 
sibility is  to  see  that  the  walleye  is  pro- 
tected, conserved  and  enhanced  as  a self- 
sustaining  renewable  natural  resource. 

This  responsibility  is  awesome  because 
the  walleye  is  a sensitive  species  and  its 
survival  depends  on  complex  interaction 
with  the  environment  and  man.  These  in- 
teractions are  not  always  well-understood, 
but  as  our  knowledge  improves,  so  does 
our  management  effectiveness.  Because 
walleye  do  not  always  occur  at  desired 
levels  on  a self-sustaining  basis,  the  Fish 
Commission  has  stocked  walleye  for  a long 
time.  The  emphasis  and  priority,  how- 
ever, are  on  managing  walleye  through 
natural  reproduction. 

Through  evaluation  of  habitat  require- 
ments, population  dynamics,  angler  inter- 
est and  harvest  of  walleye,  the  Fish  Com- 
mission plays  the  key  role  in  both  protecting 
walleye  environment  and  regulating  an- 
gler use  of  walleye  in  the  Commonwealth. 

Habitat 

Investigations  of  the  occurrence  of 
walleye  have  shown  that  they  inhabit  most 
types  of  waters  in  Pennsylvania.  Early 
studies  focused  on  ponds,  lakes  and  res- 
ervoirs, probably  because  available  sam- 
pling gear  was  best  suited  to  those  envi- 
ronments, but  also  because  most  of  these 
flat-water  resources  in  Pennsylvania  were 
man-made.  Thus,  it  was  both  interesting 
and  important  to  determine  which  fish 
populations  were  developing.  Fish  stock- 
ing, including  walleye,  was  often  prac- 
ticed to  help  desirable  fish  populations  be- 
come established.  Large  waters  seemed 
favorable  to  walleye  because  of  their  greater 
diversity  of  habitat,  which  provides  feed- 
ing areas,  spawning  shoals,  nursery  hab- 
itat and  most  important,  deep-water  ref- 
uges from  high  summer  temperature  and 
as  cover  from  sunlight.  All  of  the  30  res- 
ervoirs greater  than  500  surface  acres  have 
the  potential  to  support  walleye.  About 
half  the  number  of  lakes  between  50  and 
500  acres  are  managed  for  walleye,  but 
only  five  of  the  ponds  less  than  50  acres 
are  being  considered  for  walleye.  The  total 
potential  walleye  habitat  in  Pennsylvania 
lakes  exceeds  83,000  acres. 

River  investigations  have  shown,  as  with 
lakes,  that  larger  is  better  in  terms  of  wall- 
eye. Refined  river  sampling  gear  and  tech- 
niques have  provided  the  opportunity  to 
assess  these  resources.  State-of-the-art 
electrofishing  boats  deployed  during  spring 
and  autumn  nights  show  the  abundance  of 
walleye.  Walleye  are  currently  managed 


in  all  the  major  public  rivers  in  Penn- 
sylvania (Delaware,  Lehigh,  Schuylkill, 
Susquehanna,  West  Branch,  Juniata, 
Allegheny,  Ohio,  Monongahela 
and  Youghiogheny).  These  major  rivers 
total  over  1 ,200  miles  in  length  and  over 
125,000  acres. 

Some  small  rivers  in  Pennsylvania,  those 
with  drainage  areas  between  250  and  1 ,500 
square  miles,  also  contain  walleye.  Wall- 
eye are  thought  to  occur  in  23  of  the  44 
small  rivers  (54  percent).  Small  rivers  with 
walleye  have  a total  of  720  miles  and  more 
than  14,000  acres.  The  walleye  that  occur 
in  many  of  these  small  rivers  appear  to  be 
immigrants  or  transient  individuals.  Es- 
cape from  upstream  lakes  could  be  the 
source  of  these  walleye,  or  they  may  have 
moved  upstream  from  larger  river  systems 
perhaps  for  reproduction.  Resident  wall- 
eye populations  either  through  natural  re- 
production or  persistent  immigration  oc- 
cur in  Lrench  Creek,  Oil  Creek,  Conewago 
Creek,  Crooked  Creek,  Bald  Eagle  Creek, 
Loyalsock  Creek,  Chemung  River  and 
Raystown  Branch  of  the  Juniata  River. 

None  of  the  streams  in  Pennsylvania 
with  drainage  areas  less  than  250  square 
miles  is  known  to  support  resident  walleye 
populations.  As  in  small  rivers,  however, 
occasionally  isolated  individual  walleye 
are  encountered,  suiprising  both  anglers 
and  biologists. 

Based  on  the  successes  and  failures  of 
walleye  populations  in  various  waters, 
we’ve  identified  three  simple  rules  for 
walleye  habitat:  1)  Large  bodies  of  water 
are  more  likely  to  support  walleye  than 
small  waters,  2)  Uniformly  shallow  waters 
are  not  good  for  walleye,  and  3)  Walleye 
may  surprise  you  and  show  up  in  almost 
any  size  waterway. 

Population  dynamics 

Wild  walleye  maintain  themselves 
through  natural  reproduction.  Each  year 
as  the  spring  approaches,  male  walleye 
move  to  their  spawning  grounds.  These 
movements  may  be  long  distances  in  riv- 
ers to  preferred  deep  rapids  with  rubble 
and  gravel  bottoms.  In  lakes,  wind-swept 
shorelines  and  shoals  with  rubble,  gravel 
and  sand  are  sought  by  male  walleye.  In 
some  instances  it  is  known  that  walleye 
move  out  of  the  lake  into  tributary  streams 
to  spawn,  but  in  all  cases  the  walleye  seek 
optimum  spawning  habitat. 

Female  walleye  soon  join  the  males  and 
when  water  temperatures  rise  above  42 
degrees  spawning  begins.  Walleye  eggs 
and  the  young  walleye  after  hatching  are 
very  sensitive  to  decreases  in  water  tem- 


perature below  42  degrees.  Cold  weather 
from  time  to  time  returns  after  walleye 
spawn  and  rapidly  drops  the  water  tem- 
peratures below  the  critical  level.  Near- 
total failure  of  reproduction  may  occur  if 
these  cold  temperatures  persist. 

When  that  happens,  a whole  year  class 
of  walleye  may  be  scarce  or  even  missing 
for  the  population.  Occasional  weak  and 
missing  year  classes  may  be  noticed  by 
anglers  about  two  years  after  they  occur. 
The  astute  angler  might  observe  that  few 
sublegal  walleye  are  being  caught — that 
is  a foreboding  observation.  The  next  year's 
catch  of  legal-size  walleye  may  decline 
perceptively.  When  a succession  of  weak 
or  missing  year  classes  occurs,  it  causes 
no  small  amounts  of  anguish  for  both  an- 
glers and  biologists. 

While  the  biologist  ponders  the  future 
capability  of  the  walleye  population  to  sus- 
tain itself,  a constant  barrage  of  com- 
plaints is  received  from  disgruntled  an- 
glers who  have  experienced  dramatic, 
perhaps  catastrophic,  declines  in  walleye 
catches  that  they  want  restored. 

Walleye  population  dynamics  are  such 
that  adjustments  can  occur  when  year 
classes  fail  to  develop.  The  few  individ- 
uals that  survive  a weak  year  class  often 
have  less  competition  for  food  and  space. 
Experiencing  more  rapid  growth,  these 
walleye  may  mature  earlier  and  produce 
more  eggs.  This  compensation  helps,  but 
when  fishing  pressure  is  heavy,  these  early 
maturing  walleye  may  be  harvested  before 
they  spawn. 

The  mechanisms  that  compensate  for 
weak  year  classes  can  work  against  the 
walleye  when  they  are  abundant.  Strong 
walleye  year  classes  sometimes  dominate 
a walleye  population  for  many  years.  There 
can  be  keen  competition  among  the  wall- 
eye for  food,  forage  fish  may  become  scarce 
and  walleye  growth  can  slow  down  greatly. 

Walleye  that  do  not  get  enough  food 
may  be  in  such  poor  condition  that  ma- 
turity is  delayed  or  reproduction  is  not 
possible.  In  fact,  under  extremes  of  wall- 
eye population  abundance  there  may  be 
little  or  no  growth.  When  this  occurs, 
walleye  populations  are  stunted  and  few 
fish  are  legal-sized. 

We  apply  a few  rules  from  these  pop- 
ulation dynamics.  1 ) Excessively  abun- 
dant walleye  may  result  in  reduced  poten- 
tial, slow  growth  and  stunting,  2)  low 
abundance  of  walleye  can  produce  rapid 
growth,  early  maturity  and  potential  har- 
vest before  spawning  has  occurred,  and 
3)  stable  fisheries  develop  when  year  classes 
of  consistent  strength  are  produced  that  are 

June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


in  balance  with  available  food  sources. 

Walleye  anglers 

Anglers  fishing  in  Pennsylvania  have  a 
keen  interest  in  walleye.  Some  time  ago 
the  Fish  Commission  surveyed  anglers 
about  their  interests  in  fish.  Responses  from 
this  statewide  sampling  of  anglers  indi- 
cated that  nearly  30  percent  had  fished 
for  walleye.  Translated  to  today’s  levels, 
that  would  amount  to  400,000  anglers. 
In  addition,  recent  surveys  of  Angler 
readers  showed  that  walleye  were  the 
third  most  popular  species,  second  only  to 
trout  and  bass. 

On  waters  where  good  walleye  popu- 
lations are  maintained  through  natural  re- 
production, such  as  large  reservoirs  and 
major  rivers,  more  than  50  percent  of  the 
anglers  fishing  there  may  want  to  catch 
walleye.  Where  walleye  fisheries  have  been 
maintained  through  stocking,  interest  in 
walleye  is  more  often  about  10  percent  of 
the  anglers  who  fished  there.  A recent  study 
showed  that  as  a stocked  walleye  popu- 
lation in  a lake  declined,  angler  interest  in 
walleye  also  declined  from  about  25  per- 
cent to  about  5 percent. 

Fishing  pressure,  the  amount  of  time 
anglers  spend  on  a body  of  water,  is  often 
defined  in  terms  of  angler  hours  per  acre. 
Large  reservoirs  in  Pennsylvania,  those 
greater  than  500  acres,  often  have  fishing 
pressure  less  than  100  hours  per  acre.  On 
smaller  bodies  of  water  fishing  pressure 
increases,  frequently  exceeding  300  hours 
per  acre  on  lakes  between  50-500  acres 
and  perhaps  reaching  levels  of  over  1 ,000 
hours  per  acre  for  ponds  less  than  50  acres. 
If  you  are  an  angler,  your  expectations  of 
catching  a walleye  are  better  when  you  are 
competing  with  50  hours  per  acre  fishing 
pressure  than  they  are  if  you  must  compete 
with  300  or  more  hours  per  acre. 

Serious  walleye  anglers  are  concerned 
about  the  number  of  walleye  they  catch 
and  the  size  of  the  fish.  A good  measure 
of  an  individual  angler’s  success  is  the 
number  of  hours  it  takes  to  catch  a wall- 
eye. The  best  walleye  fisheries  in  the  state 
produce  for  the  average  angler  about  one 
walleye  for  every  three  hours  of  fishing. 

More  typical  of  acceptable  walleye  fish- 
eries are  catches  of  one  walleye  for  every 
10  hours  of  fishing.  The  walleye  once 
caught  may  have  to  be  released  if  it  does 
not  reach  the  minimum  size  limit  or  is  not 
in  the  season  for  allowable  harvest. 

Some  anglers  complain  about  having  to 
throw  undersize  walleye  back,  claiming 
that  all  they  catch  are  runts.  This  situation 
can  be  true  in  the  case  of  stunted  walleye 

20  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


populations,  but  it  is  more  often  the  case 
that  the  angler  does  not  understand  the 
nature  of  balance  in  walleye  populations. 
A stable  walleye  population  producing 
consistent  year  classes  usually  produces 
angler  catches  in  which  only  one  of  every 
three  to  five  walleye  landed  will  be  of  legal 
size,  and  if  you  let  the  big  one  get  away, 
you  may  wait  a long  time  for  the  next  one. 

Here  are  a few  rules  to  define  realistic 
angler  use  of  walleye.  1)  The  level  of 
angler  interest  in  walleye  on  a water  can 
be  a good  measure  of  walleye  availability, 
2)  anglers  are  more  likely  to  catch  walleye 
on  larger  waters  than  small  because  there 
is  less  competition  among  anglers,  3)  an- 
glers cannot  realistically  expect  to  catch 
legal  walleye  on  every  fishing  trip,  and  4) 
having  to  throw  back  short  walleye  should 
indicate  continued  walleye  fishing  success 
in  the  future. 

Environmental  protection 

Walleye  tolerate  a wide  range  of  habitat 
from  quiet  lakes  to  torrential  rivers,  but 
there  are  critical  elements  in  their  envi- 
ronments to  which  they  are  very  sensitive 
and  which  can  limit  walleye  occurrence 
and  abundance.  Protecting  walleye  habitat 
is  essential  to  maintaining  healthy,  vig- 
orous populations. 

High  water  temperatures  can  be  a lim- 
iting factor  for  walleye.  Maximum  wall- 
eye growth  can  occur  at  79  degrees  when 
there  is  enough  food  and  cover.  Temper- 
atures above  and  below  this  optimum 
produce  slower  growth.  Although  walleye 
can  survive  in  water  near  freezing,  they 
soon  become  distressed  as  water  temper- 
atures rise  above  79  degrees.  Tempera- 
tures at  82  degrees  are  considered  the  up- 
per limit  for  acceptable  growth.  At  82 
degrees  growth  can  still  be  80  percent  of 
the  maximum.  As  temperatures  rise,  growth 
continues  to  slow.  At  87  degrees  there  is 
little  positive  growth. 

Death  occurs  if  walleye  cannot  find  ref- 
uge from  higher  water  temperatures.  Many 
Pennsylvania  rivers  approach  the  critical 
temperature  levels  each  summer.  Walleye 
anglers  are  probably  aware  of  decreases 
in  walleye  feeding  and  their  movement  to 
temperature  refuges  during  the  summer. 
In  both  lakes  and  rivers,  walleye  try  to 
locate  cooler  temperatures  in  deeper  water. 
They  may  be  difficult  for  anglers  to  find, 
and  not  feeding  much  they  may  be  difficult 
to  catch. 

The  Fish  Commission  opposes  activi- 
ties that  further  increase  temperatures  above 
optimum  levels.  Our  main  concerns  are 
heated  water  discharges  from  industry  and 


electric  power- generating  facilities. 

Dams  on  Pennsylvania’s  major  rivers 
impede  walleye  movements.  Walleye 
movement  is  most  pronounced  in  autumn 
and  spring,  apparently  associated  with 
spawning  and  feeding.  Congregations  of 
walleye  below  dams  are  well-known  to 
the  angler,  and  because  the  walleye  can 
proceed  no  farther,  they  spawn  in  these 
locations.  That  is  a small  consolation  for 
preventing  walleye  free  range  in  their  hab- 
itat, and  if  suitable  nursery  areas  are  not 
available,  survival  may  be  minimal. 

Summer’s  low  water  is  a critical  period 
for  walleye.  Dams  that  restrict  minimum 
flows  can  cause  vital  walleye  refuges  to 
dwindle.  Water  withdrawals  from  rivers 
for  industry,  domestic  water  supply  and 
for  cooling  can  also  diminish  river  flows. 
Withdrawals  that  permanently  reduce  river 
flows  are  called  consumptive  losses.  The 
cumulative  effect  of  any  consumptive  losses 
along  a river’s  course  can  amount  to  a big 
effect  on  critical  walleye  habitat. 

Flood  control  dams,  which  are  man- 
made, have  contributed  much  to  walleye 
habitat  in  Pennsylvania.  Operation  of  these 
dams  for  flood  control  purposes  presents 
special  problems  for  walleye  manage- 
ment. Each  year  at  many  flood  control 
projects,  water  volumes  are  greatly  re- 
duced by  drawing  the  lake  level  down. 
This  increases  the  amount  of  storage  for 
flood  waters.  Many  lakes  may  also  be 
drawn  down  for  other  management  pur- 
poses such  as  removal  of  silt,  inspection 
for  dam  safety  and  vegetation  man- 
agement. Rapid  releases  of  high  vol- 
umes of  water  can  cause  the  walleye  to 
escape  downstream. 

Some  basic  principles  of  environment 
protection  for  walleye  need  to  be  ob- 
served. 1)  Do  not  allow  a river  tempera- 
ture to  be  artificially  heated  above  opti- 
mum temperatures  for  walleye  life  function, 
particularly  82  degrees  in  the  summer,  2) 
Seek  High  Quality  Warm  water  Fishery 
Designation  from  the  Department  of  En- 
vironmental Resources  for  walleye  habitat 
in  Pennsylvania  rivers,  3)  Ensure  that  min- 
imum flow  releases  from  all  dams  and 
reservoirs  are  adequate  to  protect  down- 
stream habitat,  4)  Release  stored  water  or 
flood  water  from  reservoirs  as  slowly  as 
possible  without  compromising  other 
project  purposes,  and  5)  Provide  for  fish 
passage  at  all  major  river  impoundments 
to  allow  movement  of  walleye  to  spawn- 
ing grounds. 

Regulations 

Anglers  can  have  a major  effect  on 


walleye  abundance.  Fishing  regulations  are 
the  means  used  by  the  Fish  Commission 
to  control  the  impact  of  anglers  on  wall- 
eye. Obviously,  when  there  were  no  an- 
glers in  Pennsylvania,  there  was  no  need 
for  sport  fishing  regulations.  As  the  pop- 
ularity of  walleye  and  the  number  of  an- 
glers continue  to  grow,  more  conservative 
regulations  may  be  needed. 

The  current  Commonwealth  inland  reg- 
ulations for  walleye  represent  a compro- 
mise or  middle-of-the-road  type  of  regu- 
lation. The  season  for  walleye  harvest  is 
closed  from  the  middle  of  March  through 
the  first  weekend  in  May.  This  closure  is 
designed  to  prevent  harvest  of  walleye  while 
they  are  spawning.  Spawning  walleye  are 
easy  to  catch  and  overfishing  could  be  a 
potential  problem.  There  is  also  consid- 
erable emotional  appeal  to  protecting 
spawning  gamefish. 

The  true  effect  of  the  season  is  reduc- 
tion in  the  opportunity  to  harvest  walleye. 
The  amount  of  walleye  harvested  can  be 
controlled  by  the  amount  of  open  season. 

The  statewide  minimum  size  limit  for 
walleye  is  15  inches.  This  size  limit  was 
also  set  as  a means  of  protecting  walleye 
until  they  have  spawned  once.  The  reg- 
ulation is  effective  for  male  walleye  of 
which  a high  percentage  are  mature  by 
age  two  and  less  than  15  inches.  Female 
walleye  mature  more  slowly  and  the  reg- 
ulation protects  few  female  walleye  until 
they  have  spawned  once. 

The  creel  limit  of  six  walleye  has  little 
influence  on  the  amount  of  walleye  har- 
vested. Very  few  anglers  ever  have  to  re- 
lease legal-size  walleye  because  they  have 
already  creeled  six,  so  the  creel  limit  does 
not  save  many  walleye. 

The  need  for  regulations  controlling 
walleye  harvest  actually  depends  on  two 
factors.  One  is  the  abundance  of  walleye 
in  the  population,  and  the  second  is  the 
amount  of  fishing  pressure  on  the  walleye. 
Where  walleye  are  abundant  and  fishing 
pressure  is  relatively  low,  open  seasons 
and  lower  size  limits  could  be  used.  But 
there  are  few  waters  in  Pennsylvania  where 
this  would  be  appropriate.  When  fishing 
pressure  is  heavy  with  much  of  it  directed 
at  walleye  and  the  walleye  population  is 
low,  perhaps  because  of  heavy  fishing, 
poor  reproduction  or  dependence  on  main- 
tenance stocking,  then  the  walleye  need 
more  protection. 

More  conservative  regulations  for  wall- 
eye are  part  of  the  Special  Conservation 
Regulations  applied  to  10  Pennsylvania 
lakes.  These  regulations  protect  walleye 
with  20  inches  minimum  size  limit  and 


two  walleye  per  day  creel  limits.  The  closed 
season  remains  from  mid-March  to  the 
first  weekend  in  May. 

In  the  future,  additional  alternative  reg- 
ulations may  be  proposed  to  increase  our 
flexibility  in  dealing  with  the  variety  of 
walleye  habitats,  population  densities  and 
fishing  pressure.  We  observe  a few  guide- 
lines to  develop  future  regulations  for 
walleye.  1)  Seasons  effectively  limit  the 
amount  of  time  available  to  allow  anglers 
to  harvest  walleye,  2)  Low  density  wall- 
eye populations  that  are  under  heavy  fish- 
ing pressure  need  special  protection,  3) 
Higher  minimum  size  limits  are  needed  if 
female  walleye  are  to  be  protected  so  that 
they  can  spawn  at  least  once,  and  4)  Abun- 
dant walleye  under  low  fishing  pressure 
require  less  protection. 

Walleye  stocking 

The  Fish  Commission  has  practiced 
walleye  stocking  for  a long  time.  Our  ear- 
liest records  of  walleye  stocking  are  from 
the  1900s.  A fairly  complicated  process 
occurs  to  accomplish  walleye  stocking. 
Each  autumn,  fish  biologists  responsible 
for  various  areas  of  the  state  assemble  their 
requests  for  walleye  and  other  fish  that 
they  would  like  to  have  stocked  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Walleye  may  be  requested 
either  as  fry  (newly  hatched  walleye),  small 
fingerlings  (1-2  inches)  or  large  finger- 
lings  (4—6  inches).  Adult  walleye  are  not 
available  because  it  costs  too  much  to 
produce  and  maintain  them  in  a hatchery. 

The  requests  are  assembled  with  the  size 
and  number  for  each  water  noted  and 
transferred  to  the  warmwater  production 
supervisor  who  directs  the  production  of 
walleye  and  other  fish.  Brood  walleye  used 
for  eggs  are  collected  mainly  from  Py- 
matuning  Sanctuary  near  Linesville.  Brood 
walleye  are  sometimes  collected  from  Lake 
Wallenpaupack  if  they  are  needed. 

Fry  hatch  in  a few  weeks  and  the  num- 
bers requested  are  stocked  immediately. 
Small  fingerlings  are  stocked  after  having 
been  held  for  the  length  of  time  that  they 
feed  on  zooplankton.  This  usually  occurs 
in  June  or  early  July  when  they  are  1-2 
inches  long.  Large  fingerling  walleye  are 
most  often  reared  in  ponds  that  have  fat- 
head minnows  as  food.  They  are  main- 
tained in  the  ponds  as  long  as  the  food 
holds  out.  When  the  large  fingerlings  run 
out  of  food,  they  must  be  stocked  quickly 
or  they  will  eat  their  relatives  and  we  end 
up  with  a few  large  cannibals. 

The  longer  walleye  can  stay  in  the 
hatchery,  the  better  chance  they  have  for 
survival  when  stocked,  but  there  is  a limit 


to  how  much  the  hatchery  system  can 
produce,  particularly  when  it  comes  to  fin- 
gerlings. Realistic  production  objectives 
might  be  100,000  large  fingerling  walleye 
and  350,000  small  fingerlings.  Fry  pro- 
duction is  not  a major  constraint,  and  usu- 
ally 50-60  million  are  produced. 

These  numbers  are  impressive,  but  the 
important  aspect  of  walleye  stocking  is  not 
the  numbers  put  into  the  water  but  rather 
the  numbers  that  come  out  on  anglers’ 
hooks.  The  strategies  for  stocking  walleye 
are  basic.  In  new  waters  (lake  or  river 
recovering  from  pollution),  walleye  pop- 
ulations are  initiated  generally  with  several 
years  of  fry  or  small  fingerling  stocking. 
The  priority  is  always  to  start  a naturally 
reproducing  population  that  will  be  self- 
sustaining.  When  walleye  populations  de- 
velop that  are  not  self-sustaining,  main- 
tenance stocking  is  needed.  When  main- 
tenance stocking  is  required,  we  always 
try  to  develop  walleye  populations  that  are 
attractive  to  anglers  and  produce  satisfac- 
tory catches.  Much  evaluation  of  what  is 
working  and  where  it  works  is  needed  to 
determine  when  fry,  small  fingerlings  and 
large  fingerlings  are  most  appropriate  for 
stocking. 

There  is  also  an  essential  need  to  show 
what  stocking  rates  are  needed  to  produce 
the  walleye  population  level  that  is  attrac- 
tive to  anglers.  Although  managing  wall- 
eye as  a self-sustaining  renewable  natural 
resource  is  our  policy,  stocking  will  con- 
tinue to  be  an  important  tool  in  achieving 
the  desired  level  of  walleye  fishing  in  many 
waters.  Here  are  a few  rules  of  walleye 
stocking  we  use  to  promote  effective  use 
of  stocked  walleye.  1)  Walleye  stocking 
should  not  be  used  as  a substitute  for  wise 
management  of  a renewable  natural  re- 
source, 2)  Walleye  stocking  should  be  in- 
tensified in  suitable  habitat  to  produce  de- 
sirably balanced  populations,  3)  Walleye 
populations  should  be  maintained  through 
stocking  the  least  expensive  size  fish  that 
will  produce  the  desired  population,  and 
4)  Evaluation  of  walleye  stocking  success 
is  essential  to  determine  what  is  working 
and  what  is  not  working  to  produce  good 
walleye  fishing. 

Remembering  these  rules  for  walleye 
can  help  anglers  understand  our  direction 
in  managing  walleye  and  what  they  can 
realistically  expect  when  they  go  fishing 
for  walleye. 

F*1 

R.L.  Hoopes  is  a fisheries  biologist  in  the 
Warmwater  Unit  of  the  Commission  Di- 
vision of  Fisheries  Management. 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


21 


by 


M&e 


Don’t  be  too  set  in  your  ways  if  you  want 
to  set  hooks  into  a lot  of  largemouth  bass. 
There  is  no  single  method  or  fishing  pat- 
tern that  fools  bass  in  every  early  season 
situation  in  Pennsylvania,  or  even  in  any 
one  lake.  An  endless  list  of  factors  can 
change  the  mood  of  bass.  Productive  fish- 
ing patterns  can  last  for  days,  but  they 
are  more  likely  to  last  only  for  hours  or 
even  minutes. 

The  most  consistently  successful  an- 
glers have  big  bags  of  tricks.  This  does 
not  necessarily  mean  that  they  have  in- 
vested huge  sums  of  money  in  tackle, 
even  though  a smart  assortment  of  tackle 
is  a tremendous  asset.  More  important  is 
the  ability  of  the  angler  to  adapt  to  chang- 
ing conditions  and  various  situations.  An- 
glers who  are  prepared  to  try  a variety  of 
tactics  and  fish  in  a variety  of  places  stand 
the  best  chance  of  winning  this  game. 

Early  season  bass  fishing  methods  re- 
ported in  national  magazines  do  not  help 
Pennsylvania  anglers.  Early  season  tactics 
are  generally  aimed  at  pre-spawn  large- 
mouths.  In  this  state,  the  bass  season  is 
closed  to  protect  bass  during  this  time  when 
they  are  most  vulnerable.  There  are  ex- 
ceptions, but  that  is  not  the  primary  sub- 
ject. For  now,  consider  the  topic  of  large- 
mouth  bass  during  the  first  weeks  of  out- 
bass  season. 

The  bass  we  are  fishing  for  when  season 
begins  have  just  spawned — most  have,  at 
least.  Fishing  can  be  difficult,  depending 
largely  on  how  long  it  has  been  since  they 
spawned.  It  takes  a few  weeks  or  so  after 
the  spawn  for  the  bass  to  recover  from  the 
stress  of  the  spawn.  They  can  be  caught 
during  this  time,  but  fishing  methods  must 
be  suited  to  bass  that  are  not  in  a chas- 
ing mood. 

Probably  the  smartest  way  to  deal  with 
lethargic  post-spawn  bass  is  to  leave  them 
alone  and  locate  more  active  bass.  All  bass 
are  not  in  the  same  mood.  All  bass  do  not 
live  by  the  same  schedule. 


In  a large  lake  like  Raystown,  for  ex- 
ample, it  is  safe  to  bet  that  the  bass  around 
mile  marker  2 are  not  doing  the  same  thing 
as  the  bass  near  mile  marker  20.  There 
might  be  six  or  eight  degrees  difference 
in  water  temperature  between  those  two 
points.  Water  color  by  mile  marker  2 is 
typically  very  clear,  if  there  has  been  no 
recent  heavy  rain,  while  the  water  color 
up  the  lake  at  mile  marker  20  is  usually 
significantly  darker. 

The  differences  in  water  color  and  tem- 
perature can  mean  a couple  of  things  to 
bass  anglers.  If  the  bass  are  not  cooper- 
ating in  the  clear,  cool  water  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  lake,  you  can  guess  that  they 
have  just  spawned.  In  this  case  motor 
up-lake  to  wanner  water  where  the  bass 
might  be  more  advanced  through  the  post- 
spawn period. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  bass  show  no 
interest  in  your  offerings  at  the  upper, 
wanner  end  of  the  lake,  motor  down-lake. 
There  the  bass  might  still  be  on  the  beds, 
or  even  in  a prespawn  attitude. 

Smaller  lakes  can  be  fished  in  a similar 
manner.  Shallow  lakes  with  colored  water 
generally  wami  faster  than  deep,  clear  lakes. 
Bass  in  the  warmer  lakes  are  probably 
more  advanced  in  the  annual  succession 
of  events  than  are  bass  in  the  cooler  lakes. 
The  object  in  the  small  lakes,  as  in  the 
big  lakes,  is  to  find  the  bass  that  are  most 
advanced  through  the  post-spawn  period, 
or  to  find  pre-spawn  bass. 

Wind  can  play  an  important  part  in  early 
season  bass  fishing.  After  the  water  warms 
above  39  degrees,  and  until  it  begins  cool- 
ing in  late  summer  or  autumn,  the  surface 
water  is  the  wamiest  water  in  the  lake.  A 
stiff  wind  stacks  this  relatively  warm  water 
against  the  windward  shore.  This  fre- 
quently sets  off  early  season  feeding  sprees 
by  bass.  Be  alert  for  this  situation. 

Of  course,  all  this  searching  is  a waste 
of  time  if  you  do  not  use  effective  fishing 
methods. 


ii 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mike  Bieech 


Spinnerbaits 

Spinnerbaits  are  excellent  early  season 
lures.  They  can  be  worked  at  the  surface 
or  as  deep  as  bass  go.  They  can  be  re- 
trieved fast  or  slowly.  However,  no  one 
spinnerbait  is  suited  to  all  combinations 
of  depth  and  speed. 

Spinnerbaits  cannot  be  retrieved  deep 
and  fast  because  they  tend  to  rise  toward 
the  surface  as  speed  is  increased.  The  spin- 
nerbaits easiest  to  retrieve  fast  or  deep  have 
willowleaf  blades,  which  are  long  and 
slender.  As  the  size  of  the  blade  increases, 
it  becomes  more  difficult  to  keep  the  lure 
deep.  Of  course,  heavy  spinnerbaits  are 
easier  to  work  deep  than  light  spinnerbaits. 

Though  the  easiest  spinnerbaits  to  fish 
deep  tire  heavy  with  single,  small  willow- 
leaf  blades,  it  does  not  follow  that  they 
are  the  most  effective  spinnerbaits  to  work 
deep.  Some  other  spinnerbait  that  must  be 
worked  much  slower  might  be  better. 

The  most  popular  spinnerbaits  among 
expert  Pennsylvania  bass  anglers  are  \- 
ounce  to  s-ounce  with  single  Colorado 
blades.  There  is  good  reason  for  this — 
they  do  the  job!  In  clear  water,  the  blade 
should  be  about  the  size  of  your  thumb- 
nail. Use  larger  sizes  for  darker  water. 
Nearly  all  experts  agree  that  gold,  brass, 
or  copper  blades  are  best  in  stained  water. 


It  is  probably  more  important  to  vary 
the  retrieve  than  it  is  to  vary  the  style  of 
spinnerbaits.  Vary  the  speed.  Try  straight 
retrieves,  and  stop-and-go  retrieves.  Bass 
often  hit  the  spinnerbait  while  it  is  falling. 
A series  of  lifts  and  drops  is  a good  re- 
trieve. 

Minnow-type  lures 

Floating  minnow  lures  (Rebel  floating 
minnow,  Rapala,  Bang-O-Lure,  Redfin, 
etc.)  are  excellent  early  season  bass  lures, 
especially  when  bass  are  feeding  on 
spawning  minnows.  The  basic  retrieve 
methods  are  twitching  on  the  surface,  jerk- 
ing, and  the  steady  retrieve. 

Start  the  twitch  by  doing  nothing.  Cast 
the  lure  out  and  let  it  rest  motionless  for 
at  least  five  seconds.  Then  give  the  rod 
tip  a twitch,  bringing  the  lure  forward  about 
a foot.  Let  it  rest  for  another  few  seconds. 
Continue  the  retrieve  in  this  manner.  The 
twitch  is  usually  done  over  some  type  of 
cover,  such  as  stumps  or  weeds.  When 
the  lure  is  past  the  cover,  crank  it  the  rest 
of  the  way  back.  This  retrieve  can  be  ef- 
fective with  most  any  floating  lure. 

The  jerk  is  similar  to  the  twitch.  The 
difference  is  that  it  is  faster,  and  the  lure 
travels  under  the  surface.  The  object  of 
this  retrieve  is  to  imitate  a frightened  or 


injured  minnow.  This  is  a triggering 
method,  intended  to  elicit  a response  from 
bass  that  otherwise  are  not  interested  in 
striking  a lure. 

The  jerk  is  also  very  effective  when 
bass  are  busting  schools  of  minnows  or 
shad.  When  shad  are  the  targets,  use  a 
lure  that  imitates  shad. 

Straight  retrieves  can  catch  some  of  the 
active  bass.  A major  shortcoming  of  the 
straight  retrieve  is  that  most  bass  anglers 
use  it.  So  the  bass  see  a lot  of  it,  and  the 
bass  that  are  susceptible  to  it  get  caught 
quickly  on  busy  lakes. 

When  you  are  stuck  with  bass  that  are 
buried  in  cover — and  this  will  occur  a great 
deal  of  the  time — get  right  in  after  them 
with  either  Texas-rigged  plastic  worms  or 
the  jig  & pig.  These  weedless  lures  (ac- 
tually, no  lure  is  completely  weedless)  can 
be  fished  right  in  the  midst  of  weedbeds, 
sunken  tree  limbs,  or  in  nearly  any  cover 
a bass  can  get  into. 

Flipping 

Flipping,  a relatively  new  method,  is 
probably  the  best  method  of  presenting 
both  lures.  The  advantages  of  flipping  are 
that  the  lure  is  worked  vertically  and  the 
lure  can  be  placed  accurately.  The  vertical 
drop  of  the  lure  is  a great  advantage  in 


24  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mike  Bleech 


heavy  cover  because  the  lure  comes  out 
the  same  way  it  went  in.  It  will  not  get 
hung  up.  Of  course,  a bass  can  complicate 
this  plan,  but  that  is  where  the  fun  comes 
in!  Accuracy  is  critical  because  inactive 
bass  buried  in  heavy  cover  will  not  go  far 
to  take  a lure.  It  must  be  presented  right 
in  front  of  their  noses. 

Flipping  is  next  to  impossible  without 
the  proper  rod.  There  are  several  flipping 
rods  on  the  market,  and  a few  reels  made 
specifically  for  flipping.  The  rods  are  usu- 
ally 71-feet  in  length,  sometimes  longer. 
The  long  rod  gives  the  angler  reach.  These 
rods  are  also  beefy,  so  a mad  bass  can  be 
horsed  out  of  the  cover.  Use  heavy  line — 
at  least  17-pound — for  hauling  the  bass 
out,  and  to  stand  up  to  abrasion.  The  drag 
on  your  reel  should  be  cranked  tight.  Heavy 
cover  is  no  place  to  let  a bass  ran. 

Bass  in  shallow  weeds  often  attack 
surface  lures.  There  are  weedless  surface 
lures  made  specially  for  this  job.  Some 
examples  are  the  Jawbreaker,  Snag- 
proof  Frog,  Skitter  Buzz,  Moss  Boss, 
and  Barney  Spoon.  These  lures  can  be 
dragged  over  and  through  floating  and 
emergent  aquatic  vegetation.  They  aren’t 
scared  of  anything. 

Work  these  lures  slowly.  Those  that  do 
not  float  should  be  retrieved  just  fast  enough 
to  keep  them  on  top.  Cover  the  water  thor- 
oughly. Casts  should  be  made  just  a few 
feet  apart.  As  with  any  surface  lure,  do 
not  try  to  set  the  hook  until  a bass  pulls 
the  lure  under.  Bass  often  miss  surface 
lures.  Sometimes  the  bass  strikes  the  lure 
repeatedly,  but  if  you  pull  the  lure  away 
by  trying  to  set  the  hook,  the  bass  will 
probably  not  give  you  another  chance. 

Some  types  of  weeds  are  more  attrac- 
tive to  bass  than  others.  But  do  not  have 
a preconceived  notion  of  what  is  best.  Let 
the  bass  tell  you  that,  because  it  can  vary 
from  lake  to  lake,  from  area  to  area  in  any 
given  lake,  and  from  time  to  time  at  any 
given  lake.  Work  over  all  the  weeds,  and 
pay  attention  to  the  conditions  wherever 
fish  contact  is  made.  If  a pattern  develops, 
pay  special  attention  to  places  similar  to 
the  places  that  have  been  productive. 

Diving  crankbait 

Diving  crankbaits  can  be  effective  any 
time  bass  are  active  in  open  water.  Cover 
is  the  main  limiting  factor  to  crankbaits. 
Bass  are  cover-oriented,  so  this  is  a seri- 
ous limitation.  Nevertheless,  crankbaits 
should  be  tried  as  often  as  any  other  type 
of  lure.  After  all,  the  first  priority  is  to  find 
active  bass. 

Some  anglers  think  that  crankbaits  can 


be  used  to  trigger  strikes  from  inactive 
bass.  But  if  my  understanding  of  the 
meaning  of  “inactive”  is  correct,  then 
the  only  way  you  will  catch  inactive  bass 
with  crankbaits  is  to  snag  them.  And 
that's  illegal. 

Retrieve  speed  for  crankbaits  should  be 
adjusted  to  water  temperature.  Cool  water 
calls  for  slow  retrieves,  warm  water  for 
fast  retrieves.  By  the  time  bass  have  gotten 
over  the  post-spawn  blues,  it  is  time  for 
fast  retrieves.  However,  this  is  merely  a 
general  guideline.  If  the  fast  retrieve  does 
not  get  the  job  done,  slow  it  down. 

Keep  in  mind  that  crankbaits  should  im- 
itate some  kind  of  bass  food,  either  craw- 
dads  or  small  fish.  If  you  are  attempting 
to  mimic  small  fish,  use  the  guidelines 
already  given  for  floating  minnow  lures. 
When  you  want  the  lure  to  appear  like 
crawdads,  or  crayfish  if  you  prefer,  the 
lure  should  bounce  along  the  bottom  in  an 
erratic  manner,  like  a fleeing  crayfish  might. 
Obviously,  the  first  step  for  accomplishing 
this  is  using  crankbaits  that  get  down  to 
the  bottom.  Your  tackle  box  should  in- 
clude crankbaits  that  dive  to  various  depths. 

A well-stocked  tackle  box  should  in- 
clude a few  jars  of  pork.  Pork  frogs  are 
used  with  the  jig  & pig.  Pork  strips  are 
useful  with  spinnerbaits,  jigs  and  many 
surface  lures.  Pork  on  a weedless  hook 
makes  a fine  surface  lure  in  heavy  weed 
cover,  and  pork  on  a lead-head  jig  can 
imitate  nearly  any  bass  food. 


Lure  color 

Lure  colors  can  drive  bass  anglers  crazy, 
and  this  includes  all  the  lure  types  cov- 
ered. There  is  a broad  range  of  opinions 
among  experts  about  the  importance  of 
color,  but  I want  to  point  out  some  of  the 
more  popular  colors  by  lure  type.  Purple, 
blue  and  black  are  the  hot  colors  for  plastic 
worms  and  the  jig  & pig.  Diving  crank- 
baits in  the  chartreuse,  silver  and  crawfish 
color  are  favorites.  Silver,  gold  or  blue  are 


popular  in  the  floating  minnow  lures.  There 
is  little  sense  using  anything  other  than 
black  or  chrome  with  surface  lures. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  color  is  directly 
related  to  the  visibility  of  lures.  Color  can 
make  it  more  likely  for  bass  to  see  a lure. 
It  sometimes  pays  to  be  aware  of  this. 
There  are  electronic  aids  to  help  you 
in  this  regard.  But  do  not  get  the  notion 
that  color  is  the  ultimate  answer  to  your 
fishing  problems. 

How  important  is  it  to  change  lures? 
We  have  all  heard  a story  about  an  angler 
who  fished  all  day  and  tried  just  about 
everything  in  the  tackle  box  without  suc- 
cess. Then  in  desperation,  the  angler  tries 
that  one  lure  stuffed  in  the  back  of  the 
tackle  box.  The  first  cast  with  that  mystical 
lure  nets  a whopper!  And  then  follows  the 
greatest  frenzy  of  fish  activity  the  angler 
has  ever  witnessed.  The  fish  are  big  and 
there  are  lots  of  them  . . . 

It  surely  sounds  like  that  lure  was  the 
key  to  success.  But  was  it  really? 

Could  it  rather  have  been  more  directly 
related  to  a movement  of  active  fish  into 
the  area?  Maybe  the  angler's  boat  drifted 
into  an  area  containing  active  fish.  Perhaps 
it  was  simply  that  the  fish  started  to  get 
aggressive  at  the  same  time  the  angler  tied 
on  the  lure.  Or  maybe  it  was  some  factor 
that  anglers  have  yet  to  identify. 

Maybe  that  lure  was  something  special 
in  that  place  and  time.  More  likely  the 
lure  was  a simple  answer  to  a very  com- 
plex question.  People  like  simple  answers. 
But  few  things  in  nature  have  simple  ex- 
planations and  few  questions  have  simple 
answers.  Usually  it  takes  a substantial 
effort  to  understand  the  things  that  per- 
plex us.  Sometimes  we  must  be  content 
that  we  do  not  know  the  answers,  for  the 
time  being. 

The  point  is,  do  not  force  fishing  an- 
swers. Incorrect  answers  might  make  fish- 
ing problems  more  difficult  than  neces- 
sary. The  lure  worked.  It  might  not  again. 

You  should  realize  by  now  that  there 
are  far  too  many  combinations  of  lures/ 
retrieves/locations  to  try  all  in  any  day  of 
bass  fishing.  If  you  try  too  many  things, 
you  cannot  give  anything  a good  try!  Ver- 
satility does  not  mean  a helter-skelter  ap- 
proach. With  experience,  you  should  be 
able  to  narrow  down  the  variables  to  a 
practical  number. 

For  one  thing  there  is  no  getting  around, 
though.  You  cannot  do  what  you  do  not 
know.  Carry  a big  bag  of  tricks  for  early 
season  bass  fishing  success. 


June  1988  Pennsy  lvania  Angler  25 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Notes 

FROM  THE 

STREAMS 

Who,  me? 

While  serving  arrest  warrants  recently, 
I picked  up  a suspect  who  had  failed  to 
respond  to  a citation  for  fishing  without  a 
license.  The  citation  was  filed  by  one  of 
my  deputies  who  had  given  me  a descrip- 
tion of  the  individual,  and  he  had  also 
advised  me  that  the  man  had  no  identifi- 
cation when  he  was  cited  (the  officer  knew 
him  from  a previous  arrest).  The  violator's 
fishing  rod  was  also  seized  as  evidence. 
When  I served  the  warrant  on  the  subject, 
he  complained  long  and  loud  that  he  wasn’t 
a fisherman,  he  had  never  gone  fishing  in 
his  life,  someone  must  have  used  his  name, 
he  was  just  a poor  innocent  victim  of  cir- 
cumstance, and  finally,  he  was  the  wrong 
guy.  When  1 advised  him  that  he  was  still 
under  arrest,  he  asked,  “How  do  I get  the 
fishing  rod  back  that  the  officer  took  from 
me?” — Kim  D.  Pritts,  WCO,  northern 
Lancaster  Count y 

Avoiding  the  police 

While  investigating  a boating  com- 
plaint, I noticed  an  unoccupied  vehicle 
with  an  attached  boat  trailer  parked  at  an 
isolated  launch  ramp.  The  older-model  jeep 
was  dirty  and  in  poor  condition,  but  the 
license  plate  was  clean.  When  I checked 
both  the  vehicle  identification  number  and 
the  license  plate,  I discovered  that  the  jeep 
was  owned  by  a local  man  and  the  license 
plate  was  registered  to  a woman  with  the 
same  last  name  and  address.  The  license 
plate,  however,  was  not  issued  for  a jeep, 
nor  was  the  jeep  currently  registered.  I 
suspected  that  the  man  kept  the  old  jeep 
around  to  tow  his  boat,  and  whenever  he 
wanted  to  go  the  river,  he  simply  took  the 
license  plate  off  his  wife's  car  and  stuck 
it  on  the  jeep  for  the  day.  1 notified  the 
local  police  and  advised  them  to  be  on  the 
lookout  for  this  vehicle. 

The  next  day  I stopped  by  the  police 
station  and  asked  the  officer  on  duty  if  he 
had  seen  the  car.  “Yes,”  he  replied,  “I 
ran  into  him  last  night."  When  I asked 
what  action  he  had  taken,  he  said,  “You 
don't  understand — 1 really  ran  into  him 
last  night!” 

26  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


It  seems  this  guy's  luck  was  all  bad  that 
evening.  He  drove  home  on  the  side  streets 
and  alleys  to  avoid  the  police  because  of 
the  license  plate  he  was  using.  Unfortu- 
nately, he  swung  a little  wide  on  one  of 
the  turns  just  as  a police  cruiser  came  into 
the  alley  from  the  other  direction  and  he 
ran  head  on  into  the  police  car. 

Undaunted  by  the  minor  collision,  the 
man  leaned  out  of  the  window,  waved  to 
the  officer  and  yelled,  “Everything  is  OK, 
no  damage  on  this  end,  no  need  to  file  a 
report.”  Then,  with  his  vehicle  steaming 
and  the  boat  trailer  swaying  behind  him, 
he  tried  to  back  out  of  the  alley,  still  wav- 
ing to  the  police  officer.  If  this  guy  was 
hoping  for  a break.  . .well,  the  only  one 
he  got  was  in  his  radiator. — Kim  D.  Pritts, 
WCO,  northern  Lancaster  Count}’. 


Here  in  the  family  boat  on  the  Schuylkill 
River  is  WCO  Dave  Corl  ( southern  Mont- 
gomery’ County)  with  his  son,  David,  Jr., 
donning  a PFD,  of  course.  The  boy’s  mom, 
WCO  Sally  Corl  (Philadelphia  Count}’), 
caught  the  boating  duo  on  film. 

Frog  at  the  wheel 

This  past  Memorial  Day  weekend  I cited 
three  individuals  for  taking  bullfrogs  at 
night  during  closed  season.  I took  the  six 
frogs,  still  alive,  for  evidence  and  placed 
them  in  a Fish  Commission  litterbag,  the 
drawstring  pulled  tightly.  I placed  the  bag 
on  the  front  passenger-side  floor.  On  the 
way  home  the  bag  moved  occasionally  but 


nothing  appeared  amiss,  and  the  bag  and 
frogs  were  placed  in  a bucket  with  a lid 
to  be  frozen  the  next  day. 

The  next  morning  I opened  the  bag  to 
take  a head  count  before  freezing  the  frogs 
and  I came  up  short  one  frog.  1 immedi- 
ately checked  the  state  vehicle  and  found 
the  frog  seated  on  the  front  seat  in  the 
driver’s  position.  Muddy  tracks  indicated 
that  he  had  been  on  the  dashboard  and  had 
jumped  up  against  both  side  windows  be- 
fore taking  the  driver's  seat.  Luckily,  I 
hadn't  left  the  auto  keys  in  the  ignition  or 
he  may  have  started  it.  I don't  need  a 
chauffeur,  but  I did  entertain  the  thought 
of  teaching  it  to  type  by  gluing  tlies  to  the 
typewriter  keys,  but  I was  at  a loss  to 
decide  what  pattern  to  use. — L.  J . Haas, 
WCO,  Greene  County 

10  years  experience 

This  past  Fourth  of  July  the  Allegheny 
River  was  two  feet  below  flood  stage. 
Needless  to  say,  there  wasn't  any  com- 
mercial or  recreational  boating  on  the  Al- 
legheny River,  or  so  I thought.  On  the 
Monday  following  the  Fourth  of  July 
weekend  I received  a call  from  a boater 
who  said  his  boat  was  sunk  in  pool  9 of 
the  Allegheny  River.  I asked  him  how  his 
boat  sank.  The  caller  said  he  was  traveling 
up  river  with  his  20-foot  day  cruiser  when 
he  swerved  to  miss  a floating  log  and  ran 
into  a submerged  log,  causing  his  boat  to 
take  on  water  and  sink.  When  I asked  the 
caller  if  he  knew  the  Allegheny  River  was 
at  flood  stage,  he  replied,  “Yes,  but  I have 
10  years  of  boating  experience  and  this  is 
the  first  time  this  has  happened  to  me." 
Luckily  no  one  was  injured  and  the  boater 
did  have  enough  personal  flotation  devices 
for  everyone  aboard.  This  incident  proves 
that  there  is  no  substitute  for  proper  boat- 
ing education  and  some  common  sense. 
— Emil  J.  Svetahor,  WCO,  Armstrong 
Count}’ 

Wanted  a wedding 

Being  listed  under  “Pennsylvania”  in 
the  telephone  directory  has  obvious  ad- 
vantages to  the  sportsmen  we  serve,  but 
it  also  leads  to  some  interesting  calls. 

Imagine  my  wife’s  surprise  on  answer- 
ing the  phone  on  a Saturday  afternoon  this 
past  summer  and  the  female  caller  asking 
what  judge  was  working  in  the  Greens- 
boro area.  Not  knowing  exactly  what  the 
caller  needed,  my  wife  inquired  why  the 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


caller  wanted  to  know.  The  caller  then 
explained  that  she  and  her  fiance  wanted 
to  get  married  that  evening  and  needed  a 
judge  to  perform  the  ceremony. 

After  contacting  me  by  radio  I ex- 
plained to  my  wife  that  there  was  a district 
magistrate  on  call  in  the  county,  but  it  was 
doubtful  he  would  perform  a marriage  cer- 
emony with  no  advance  notice,  etc.,  etc. 
My  wife  then  explained  this  to  the  caller, 
who  seemed  satisfied  and  hung  up  the 
phone. — L.  J.  Haas,  WCO,  Greene  County 

What  next? 

The  beginning  of  a brand  new  year  of 
fishing  is  always  accompanied  by  a pro- 
liferation of  questions  about  fishing  and 
boating. 

These  questions,  for  the  most  part,  are 
old  questions  revisited  by  yet  another  gen- 
eration of  anglers  seeking  information  on 
when,  where  and  how  to  catch  fish. 

However,  1988  seems  destined  to  be 
the  year  of  improvisation  in  the  “how-to” 
category. 

The  Southeast  Regional  Office  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  Law  En- 
forcement Bureau  has  received  the  follow- 
ing questions  as  of  March  15,  1988. 


• May  an  18-inch  remote-controlled  boat 
be  used  to  troll  for  fish?  The  premise:  A 
fishing  line  and  lure  connected  to  a rod 
and  reel  on  shore  would  be  trolled  by  the 
remote-controlled  boat  until  the  lure  was 
taken  by  a fish.  A quick-release  device 
would  then  be  activated,  and  the  fish  would 
be  reeled  in  directly  using  the  rod  and  reel 
from  shore. 

• “Fish  decoys.”  May  a number  of 
wooden  replicas  of  tish  be  weighted  and 
tied  to  an  inflated  innertube  over  a specific 
area  to  resemble  a “schooling  spot”  that 
would  hopefully  attract  real  fish,  which 
then  could  be  caught  in  the  same  area? 

• “Floating  duck  eggs.”  May  I retrieve 
for  consumption  duck  eggs  that  are  afloat 
in  a lake?  They  are  excellent  eating. 

It  is  always  interesting  and  amusing  to 
see  what  might  be  proposed  next  by  im- 
aginative anglers.  However,  my  experi- 
ence dictates  that  regardless  of  the  method 
and  means  of  pursuit,  the  results  relate 
directly  to  the  IQ  of  the  pursuer  and  the 
pursued . 

You  must  be  smarter  than  the  fish  or  it 
might  be  beans  for  dinner. — Robert  Perry, 
manager,  Southeast  Law  Enforcement 
Region 


Well-deserved  recognition 

In  this  photo,  taken  last  year,  I am  presenting  Merritt  Snyder  with  two  awards, 
a Commission  Conservation  Award  and  an  honorary  lifetime  deputy  commission. 
Mr.  Merritt,  of  Leesport,  Berks  County,  aided  me  in  stocking  trout  until  about  four 
or  five  years  ago.  In  his  early  80s,  Mr.  Merritt  helped  with  trout  stocking  no  matter 
how  bad  the  weather  was.  He’s  been  getting  the  Angler  since  its  beginning  (1931 ), 
and  he  still  fishes.  Special  thanks  goes  to  him! — Ammon  Ziegenfus,  WCO,  northwest 
Berks  County 


Larry  Boor  is 
Officer  of  the  Year 


Larry  Boor,  waterways  conservation 
officer  for  Adams/northem  York  counties, 
has  been  named  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission  Officer  of  the  Year. 

Boor  has  served  the  Commission  since 
1969  as  a waterways  conservation  officer, 
and  currently  patrols  321  stream  miles  and 
674  acres  of  lakes  in  his  district.  Accord- 
ing to  Edward  Manhart,  director  of  the 
Bureau  of  Law  Enforcement,  “Boor  has 
exhibited  a professional  attitude  toward  his 
deputies,  his  fellow  employees,  sports- 
men, governmental  agencies  and  the  gen- 
eral public.  Boor  walks  the  extra  mile  and 
gives  the  extra  effort  to  give  his  best  in 
all  his  endeavors  as  a waterways  conser- 
vation officer  of  the  Commonwealth." 

Boor  was  honored  last  March  at 
the  1988  Northeast  Fish  and  Wildlife 
Conference  in  White  Sulphur  Springs, 
West  Virginia. 

Eyeing  trailered  boats 

Last  January  I traveled  1-78  west  from 
Allentown,  and  along  the  way  I spotted 
three  or  four  cars  trailering  boats.  Most 
lakes  in  Pennsylvania  were  covered  with 
at  least  three  inches  of  ice,  so  I thought  it 
was  strange  to  see  all  those  trailered  rigs 
on  the  road.  Then  I remembered  that  the 
number  of  boats  registered  in  Pennsylva- 
nia has  risen  steadily  for  the  past  10  years 
or  so,  and  that  the  Commission  recently 
sent  out  some  272,000  boat  registration 
renewal  materials.  Then  I thought  how 
unusual  it  would  be  not  to  see  trailered 
boats  along  Keystone  State  highways  all 
year  long. — Art  Michaels,  editor , Penn- 
sylvania Angler,  Boat  Pennsylvania 

June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


New  “River  Canoeing” 
Poster  Available 

The  Fish  Commission  has  available  a 
new  22-inch  by  34-inch  full-color  hand- 
somely illustrated  poster  that  addresses  the 
basics  of  river  canoeing.  Developed  by 
Dr.  Robert  Kauffman,  professor  of  rec- 
reation and  a member  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors of  the  American  Canoe  Associa- 


tion, and  Virgil  Chambers,  chief  of  Boating 
Safety  Education  for  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  the  poster  gives  the  reader 
the  essentials  on  “River  Canoeing.”  The 
poster  is  illustrated  by  Ted  Walke,  Com- 
mission graphic  artist. 

The  poster  is  packed  with  important  in- 
formation every  river  paddler  should  know. 
Topics  include  self-rescue,  equipment  rec- 
ommendations, proper  attire  (both  for  cold- 


and  warm- weather  boating),  basics  in  run- 
ning a shuttle,  and  guidelines  in  planning 
a float  trip. 

This  educational  poster  is  available  for 
$3.50  postpaid  from  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Har- 
risburg, PA  17105-1673,  or  the  American 
Canoe  Association,  8580  Cinder  Bed  Road, 
P.O.  Box  1 190  (P),  Newington,  VA  22122- 
1190. 


Anglers  yi'  „ 
Notebook 


It’s  not  only  a natural  trout  food  but 
also  a change  of  pace  from  the 
traditional  baits  they’ve  been  offered 
since  the  April  opener. 


If  you  don’t  own  a scaling  tool,  a 
teaspoon  makes  a handy  substitute.  The 
edge  of  the  spoon’s  cupped  portion 
readily  Hicks  the  scales  from  panfish  i 
and  other  large-scaled  species  when  \ 
scraped  from  tail  to  head. 

To  remove  corrosion  from  a metal 
lure,  try  soaking  it  overnight  in  a few 
ounces  of  Pepsi  or  Coke.  Then  rinse. 

Hot  weather  raises  havoc  when  plastic 
worms  or  jig  tails  come  in  contact  with 
painted  plugs  during  storage.  Keep  soft 
plastics  separated  from  the  lures  in  your 
tackle  box  and  remove  the  tails  from 
painted  jigs  between  trips. 

Always  use  the  smallest  bobber  that 
will  do  the  job.  Farge  panfish  bobbers, 
for  example,  add  unnecessary  weight 
and  won’t  signal  a nibble  as  quickly  as 
a small  one. 

Most  worm  anglers  hook  their 
nightcrawlers  through  the  collar.  This 
often  results  in  lost  prey  as  a trout  or 
smallmouth  grasps  the  long  end  and 
pulls  the  worm  from  the  hook.  If  this  is 
a problem,  hook  the  worm  through  the 
center  of  the  body  instead. 

Don’t  think  you  have  to  fish  topwater 
plugs  swiftly  or  with  a gurgling  noise 
when  night  fishing.  Every  once  in  a 
while  try  an  ultra-slow  retrieve.  It  often 
attracts  wary  largemouths  (even 
smallmouths)  that  wifi  surface  and 
gently  engulf  the  lure. 


If  you  catch  a keeper  destined  for  the 
wall,  don’t  put  it  on  a stringer  or  toss  it 
in  a cooler  among  ice  chunks.  Both 
cause  harm  to  the  tail,  fins  and  scales. 
Instead,  wrap  it  carefully  in  a wet  towel 
or  burlap  bag  and  keep  it  cool.  Get  it  to 
the  taxidermist  as  soon  as  possible. 
Freeze  if  necessary  but  keep  it  in  a 
plastic  bag  to  prevent  dehydration. 

Float  fishermen  invariably  shove  off 
from  shore  or  push  off  rocks  with  the 
blade-end  of  a canoe  paddle.  The  paddle 
will  last  longer  if  you  reverse  it  and  use 
the  handle-end  for  such  chores. 

A small  mirror  in  your  boat  serves  as 
a sun-reflecting  signal  when  you  have 
motor  trouble  and  may  need  help. 


illustration— George  Lavanish 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals 
of  safe  boating  and  optimum  boating 
opportunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  PE.,  Executive 
Director 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Vacant,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shyrl  Hood,  Division  ofWarmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Services 


BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-6574540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-6574518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley.  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  Walke.  Graphic  Design 


28  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


HOOK  YOUR 
FRIENDS  ON 
FISHIN’  FUN! 


NATIONAL  FISHING  WEEK 
JUNE  642,  1988 


Last  April,  Fish  Commission  Executive  Director  Ed  Miller  (second  from  right) 
presented  Governor  Robert  P.  Casey  ( center ) with  a framed  poster  depicting  the 
Commission’s  watchwords,  “ Resource  First.”  Executive  Director  Miller  also  pre- 
sented the  governor  with  his  1988  fishing  license  and  two  Commission  ball  caps, 
an  ‘‘I’m  a Pennsylvania  Boater”  hat  and  the  popular  ‘‘I’m  a Pennsylvania  Angler” 
hat.  Accompanying  Miller  for  the  presentations  were  Joe  Greene  (left),  Commission 
legislative  liaison;  Cheryl  Riley  (second  from  left),  Bureau  of  Education  and  In- 
formation director;  and  Dave  Wolf  (right),  Commission  director  of  Media  Relations. 


Prompton  Reservoir  Horsepower 
Limits  Clarified 

The  Fish  Commission  is  calling  boaters’  attention  to  the  horsepower  limits  on 
Prompton  Reservoir  in  Wayne  County.  Boats  are  limited  to  a maximum  of  10  horse- 
power under  a change  brought  about  when  the  impoundment  reverted  to  U.S.  Army 
Corps  of  Engineers  control  from  the  state  Department  of  Environmental  Resources. 

Boaters  are  cautioned  that  Fish  Commission  publications  and  other  sources  of  printed 
material  they  may  consult  could  provide  outdated  information,  which  indicated  that 
horsepower  was  either  unlimited  or  restricted  to  electric  motors  only  on  this  280-acre 
impoundment.  Boaters  are  urged  to  check  their  boating  summary  book  of  regulations, 
which  has  been  updated  to  include  the  correct  information,  and  also  to  read  any  signs 
that  may  be  posted  along  the  lake.  Waterways  conservation  officers  will  be  enforcing 
the  regulations  that  limit  the  use  of  motors  to  10  horsepower  or  less. 


Cooperative  Nurseries 

They  meet  in  the  cold  of  January,  when 
trout  anglers’  thoughts  are  distracted  by 
other  things.  They  count  their  money  and 
wonder  how  to  increase  their  membership. 
The  questions  are  asked  again  and  again. 
Who  will  feed  the  fish?  Clean  the  race- 
ways? Help  on  stocking  day?  Outside  un- 
der lock  and  key,  raceways  held  a crop  of 
fish  they  stocked  in  the  spring.  Last  spring 
there  were  crowds  following  the  trucks, 
anglers  armed  with  rods  in  hand.  Few  were 
there  to  help  and  most  did  not  buy  mem- 
berships. Still,  the  clubs  continue,  con- 
tributing time  and  effort  and  money  un- 
selfishly the  year  long. 

There  are  155  such  groups,  caring  for 
trout,  walleye,  salmon  and  bass.  Of  the 
187  hatcheries,  183  are  coldwater  hatch- 
eries; one  group  raises  walleye;  three  nour- 
ish and  stock  bass. 

In  June  or  July  the  Fish  Commission 
supplies  sponsoring  groups  with  fingerling 
trout  that  are  6 to  8 months  old  and  2 to 
4 inches  in  length.  With  the  truckload  of 
fingerlings  comes  a two-week  supply  of 
food,  but  after  that  the  groups  are  on  their 
own.  That  means  they  buy  the  food,  build 
and  maintain  the  raceways  and  stock  the 
fish  in  the  spring.  It  requires  long  hours, 
with  sore  muscles,  and  at  times  dealing 
with  low  flows,  ice  and  disease.  It  is  per- 
haps one  of  the  most  unselfish  efforts  a 
club  could  undertake. 

This  spring  the  cooperative  nurseries 
stocked  a little  over  a million  trout.  All 
trout  were  stocked  in  public  waters  for  the 
benefit  of  everyone.  And  the  sportsmen, 
after  the  stockings,  now  receive  a new 
batch  of  fingerlings  and  begin  working  on 
next  year’s  crop. 

To  all  our  Cooperative  Nursery 
volunteers,  thanks  for  a job  well  done. — 
Dave  Wolf 


Monofilament  Line  Can  Be 
Dangerous 

Birds,  mammals  and  reptiles  com- 
monly become  entangled  in  monofilament 
line  that  litters  our  waterways.  These  an- 
imals usually  die  as  a result  of  the  entan- 
glement, so  remember  to  save  mono  line 
to  throw  away  properly. 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


CAUGHT 

& 

RELEASED 


Another  nice  smallie  from  the  Mon  River 
during  an  evening  trip  is  displayed  by  Wil- 
liam Roule.  The  fish  jumped  on  live  bait 
last  September. 


Michael  Lambert  used  live  bait  to  fool  this 
lOLinch  crappie  in  a waterway  near  his 
home  in  Scranton.  He  made  the  catch  while 
fishing  with  his  grandfather  last  July. 


30  June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Last  September,  Randy  Knestrick  caught 
this  smallmouth  bass  in  the  Monongahela 
River  during  a nighttime  trip. 


1 


Scott  Barefoot  was  fishing  the  Allegheny 
River  last  March  with  a 4-inch  shiner  as 
bait  when  this  nice  musky  (37  inches) 
clobbered  the  offering.  His  brother  Barry 
handled  the  netting  honors. 


Herman  Schaeffer  shows  off  a 6-pound, 
12-ounce,  24-inch  largemouth  bass  he 
caught  in  northeast  Pennsylvania.  He  used 
a white  spinnerbait  to  make  the  catch  last 
August. 


Just  fill  out  this  form  and  send  it  with  a photo 
of  you  and  your  catch. 


Name 


Address 


City  State  ZIP 


Account  # (top  line  of  magazine  mailing  label) 


Date  of  catch  and  release 


Location 


Fishing  method 


Remarks 


Please  send  only  photos  of  fish  that  were 
released  unharmed.  A color  slide  or  a black- 
and-white  or  color  print  no  smaller  than  3V2 
x 5 is  best  The  Fish  Commission  offers  no 
payment  for  these  pictures.  If  you  wish  your 
photograph  to  be  returned,  please  include 
a stamped,  self-addressed  envelope  when 
you  send  us  your  picture.  Send  to:  “Caught 
and  Released,”  Pennsylvania  Angler,  P.O. 
Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 

Please  photocopy  this  form  if  you  don’t  wish 
to  cut  your  magazine,  or  with  your  photo- 
graph include  the  information  on  a separate 
sheet. 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


◄ 

Cathy  Stirm  of  Philadelphia  hefts  a nice 
largemouth  bass  that  she  caught  on  a spin- 
ner in  Lake  Luxembourg,  Bucks  County. 


This  5-pound  smallmouth  bass  was  re- 
turned to  its  Juniata  River  home  by  angler 
Bill  Klink,  who  caught  the  bass  on  a spin- 
ner last  October. 

▼ 


Ed  Dybalski,  Jr. , holds  up  a 432-inch  musky 
that  he  caught  on  a spinnerbait  in  Lake 
Ontelaunee  last  March. 


June  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


Ken  Kodadek,  age  12,  caught  and  re- 
leased this  beautiful  brook  trout  near  Boil- 
ing Springs.  He  took  the  fish  with  a size 
14  Isonychia  nymph. 


Lester  Truswell  nailed  this  10-pound  carp 
on  6-pound-test  line  in  a Westmoreland 
County  waterway.  The  action  took  place 
last  May. 


E.  J.  Seman  was  fishing  with  a fly  rod 
and  a 2-pound-test  tippet  to  fool  this  20- 
inch  rainbow  last  August  at  Fisherman's 
Paradise.  He  caught  the  trout  during  the 
afternoon  in  92-degree  heat. 


The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  encourages 
everyone,  resident  and  non-resident,  to  “take  a 
friend  fishing”  on  June  25, 1988. 

All  fishing  license  requirements  will  be 
lifted  for  the  day,  although  all  rules  and 
regulations  governing  fishing  will 
be  enforced. 

Take  a break  in  ’88— try  fishing  in 
the  Keystone  State. 


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Straight 

Talk 


A Long-Term  Investment 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


How  many  of  you  have  ever  taken  the  time  to  list  the  amount  of  money  you  spend  on 
fishing  and  boating  activities?  If  you  include  the  cost  of  your  tackle,  lures,  bait, 
groceries,  gas,  lodging  and  the  cost  of  your  boat,  motor  and  other  specialized 
equipment  and  clothing,  you  soon  discover  that  you  have  a substantial  investment. 

Most  people  who  make  investments  do  so  because  they  expect  to  get  something  in 
return.  This  return  can  have  monetary  value,  a therapeutic  value  or  simply  a return  of 
pleasure  that  comes  from  relaxation  and  recreational  pursuits. 

Dividends  can  be  measured  in  many  ways.  In  the  case  of  recreational  pursuits, 
dividends  are  measured  by  the  hours  of  relaxation  that  result  from  engaging  in  fishing 
and  boating  activities,  the  number,  size  and  species  of  fish  caught,  or  just  simply  the 
fun  and  enjoyment  of  water-related  recreational  activities.  Many  anglers,  however, 
often  look  only  at  the  short-term  benefits,  and  overlook  the  need  to  plan  for  long-term 
recreational  needs. 

Fishing  and  boating  activities  are  a dividend  from  a public  trust  that  is  managed  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission.  You  invest  in  this  public  trust  through  purchase  of 
a fishing  license  or  by  registration  of  your  powerboat.  Current  fishing  license  and  boat 
registration  revenues  are  providing  only  for  the  general  operation  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission’s  programs  and  provide  very  little  capital  to  expand  public  services 
or  provide  long-range  protection  and  enhancement  of  our  valuable  aquatic  resources. 
Buying  an  annual  fishing  license  or  annual  boat  registration  permits  you  to  enjoy  the 
short-term  benefits  of  the  Commission’s  efforts  for  a one-year  period. 

However,  at  the  current  cost  levels  it  does  very  little  to  guarantee  long-term  benefits 
for  your  investment.  The  Commission  believes  that  the  majority  of  the  fishermen  and 
boaters  in  the  Commonwealth  are  interested  in  protecting  and  enhancing  their 
investment  in  the  long-term  fishing  and  boating  resources  of  Pennsylvania.  This 
interest  centers  not  only  on  their  own  concerns  for  continued  fishing  and  boating 
opportunities  and  the  resulting  benefits,  but  for  the  need  to  invest  in  these  resources  for 
the  benefit  of  future  generations. 

The  Commission  has  determined  that  it  needs  $5  million  of  additional  annual  revenue 
to  provide  the  level  of  service  that  Pennsylvania  boaters  and  anglers  need,  expect  and 
deserve.  The  Commission  has  proposed  to  the  Pennsylvania  General  Assembly  to  increase 
the  annual  registration  fee  for  all  motorboats  to  $10  per  year,  and  also  to  require  registration 
of  nonpowered  boats  at  a cost  of  $5  per  year.  The  cost  of  registering  a motorboat  in 
Pennsylvania  has  not  changed  since  1963,  and  presently  nonpowered  boat  owners  pay 
no  registration  fees,  even  though  they  benefit  greatly  from  the  use  of  the  resources  and 
facilities  protected  and  maintained  by  the  Commission,  and  from  the  various  programs 
and  safety  services  that  are  provided. 

The  Commission  has  also  asked  that  a trout/salmon  stamp  be  instituted  to  provide 
additional  money  for  supporting  the  many  services  provided  by  the  Commission  to  the 
coldwater  resources  of  the  Commonwealth.  Thirty-two  states  currently  issue  a species 
stamp,  including  nearly  all  the  states  with  significant  trout/salmon  production 
programs.  All  of  our  neighboring  states  require  a trout/salmon  stamp,  except  Ohio, 
which  has  limited  coldwater  fishing  opportunities. 

If  the  Commission  obtains  new  revenues,  every  cent  raised  will  be  returned  to  the 
public  in  improved  public  services  and  increased  efforts  to  enhance,  protect  and 
expand  the  resource.  Our  goals  include  greater  boating  safety  efforts,  improvement  of 
our  warm  water/cool  water  fisheries  management  programs,  expansion  of  our  aquatic 
resource  and  boating  safety  educational  efforts,  providing  more  and  better  fishing  and 
boating  access  facilities,  upgrading  our  present  trout/salmon  and  warmwater/coolwater 
hatchery  facilities,  and  expansion  of  our  acquisition  efforts  to  protect  valuable  fishing 
and  boating  waters. 

Accomplishing  these  goals  will  not  be  easy.  We  need  help  and  support  from  the 
fishing  and  angling  public.  The  Fish  Commission  has  been  and  will  continue  to  be  a 
frugal  guardian  of  the  monies  paid  by  its  customers — the  Pennsylvania  boaters  and 
anglers.  As  an  independent  administrative  agency,  the  Fish  Commission  is  well- 
equipped  to  meet  the  needs  of  present  and  future  generations  of  Pennsylvania  boaters 
and  anglers,  but  we  can’t  do  it  alone.  We  request  your  support  in  providing  us  with 
the  means  to  serve  you  better  and  to  enable  us  to  better  protect,  conserve  and  enhance 
the  fishing  and  boating  resources  of  Pennsylvania. 


JUM  3ft  1988 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Chairman 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 


Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN003M34X)  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harris- 
burg. PA.  17109  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted 
without  the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion. Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1 .50  each. 
Second  class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER: 
Send  address  changes  to  : Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For 
subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow 
six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The 
Editor,  Pennsylvania  Angler.  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105- 
1673.  Editorial  queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must 
be  accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material 
accepted  tor  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  transit 
The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


July  1988  Vol.  57  No.  7 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


All  Right  Now,  Why  Do  We  Fish?  by  Jim  Bashline 

Are  you  a loner  or  a pack  rat  angler ? Or  maybe  you're  a good  parent 


fisherman  or  an  insect  gatherer.  Could  you  be  a snobbish  copy-cat 
angler"!  4 

The  Canoeable,  Canoeable  Clarion  by  Len  Lichvar 
The  Clarion  River  offers  good  fishing  and  a canoe  provides  a practical 
way  to  get  to  the  action 7 

Getting  Hooked  on  Bass  Bugging  by  Joe  Reynolds 
Armed  with  the  author’s  ideas,  taking  largemouth  bass  on  poppers  with 
a fly  rod  can  be  easier  than  you  think 10 

Boaters  Beware!  by  Jim  Mize 

Oh  no — customized  boats?  Keep  hoping  it  doesn't  come  to  pass 12 

River  Catfish  Are  a Summer  Treat  by  Jim  Gronaw 
Combine  baits,  rigs,  the  right  tackle  and  a little  skill  and  you  could  be 
hauling  in  some  B-I-G  catfish 14 

Go  Shallow  and  Deep  with  Jigs  by  Dari  Black 
Gamefish  and  panfish  go  for  jigs — if  you  fish  them  skillfully 16 

Those  Tricky  Tricos  by  Jeff  Mulhollem 
Don't  let  "the  fly  fisherman’s  curse”  keep  you  fishless 20 

Kids  Page!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Hey!  Lighten  up — for  summer  trout,  of  course 22 

Summer  Trout  the  Easy  Way  by  Mark  A.  Nale 
This  lowdown  can  help  you  enjoy  some  of  Pennsylvania's  best  trout 
fishing 23 


Where  Do  All  the  Stocked  Fish  Come  From? 

by  Richard  A . Snyder 

Illinois,  Georgia,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  West  Virginia,  Indiana, 
Michigan,  Kentucky,  South  Dakota,  Massachusetts  and  the 
U.S.S.R 26 


The  cover 

The  successful  largemouth  bass  angler  on  this  month's  cover  was  photo- 
graphed by  C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer.  You  might  enjoy  similar  success  armed  with 
the  ideas  in  the  article  that  begins  on  page  16,  and  if  fly  rodding  for  largemouths 
interests  you,  check  out  page  10.  Trout  fishermen  who'd  like  to  stir  up  some 
action  now  should  scan  the  articles  that  start  on  pages  20  and  23.  and  if  you 
own  a boat,  the  story  on  page  12  might  make  you  laugh. 


STATE  LIBRARY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


All  Right  Now, 
Why  Do  We  Fish? 


The  easiest  answer  to  the  title  question  is, 
“1  just  like  to — that’s  all.”  To  the  amateur 
psychiatrist  in  all  of  us,  that  answer  isn't 
good  enough.  The  inquisitive  bend  of  our 
world  today  requires  a more  meaningful 
explanation.  Well,  maybe  such  an  expla- 
nation isn't  required,  but  it’s  harmless  to 
look  for  one.  Who  we  are,  where  we  grew 
up,  what  we  fish  for  and  how  we  do  it  are 
all  factors  in  determining  why.  But  there 
are  far  deeper  reasons  stored  in  the  sub- 
liminal chambers  of  our  brains.  You  may 
not  know  about  them  or  may  not  care  to 
any  great  degree,  but  they  are  there  and 
have  much  to  do  with  enjoyment  or  re- 
jection of  angling  activities.  Deep 
stuff,  huh? 

Well,  such  ponderings  aren't  all  that 
deep  when  it  comes  to  the  guys  or  gals  1 
choose  to  call  F tying  Pan  Fishermen  (FPF). 
The  clearly  defined  goal  for  the  FPF  is  a 
limit  catch,  or  at  least  a substantial  one, 
which  provides  enough  fish  for  a hearty 
meal  for  everyone  in  the  family. 

These  people  are  not  necessarily  bad 
sorts.  In  fact,  the  act  of  "bringing  home 
the  bacon  (or  fillets)”  is  about  as  basic 
as  we  can  get  in  trying  to  connect  today’s 
humans  with  yesterday’s  cave  and  lean-to 
dwellers.  Quite  honestly,  there  are  some 
households  in  the  world  and  the  Com- 
monwealth where  a meal  of  nearly  free 
fish  is  an  economic  asset. 

Many  of  us  are  FPF  from  time  to  time 
and  I feel  considerable  sympathy  for  those 
anglers  who  don’t  eat  fish  at  all.  It  is  the 
most  primitive  reason  for  fishing. 

The  big  step  beyond  FPF  (on  the  dark 
side)  takes  us  into  the  realm  of  the  Greed- 
ies.  The  Greedy  ones  may  or  may  not 
eat  fish.  There  may  be  some  redemption 
for  them  if  they  actually  eat  some  of  what 
they  bring  home,  but  alas,  they  seldom 
do.  They  give  their  fish  away,  toss  them 
into  the  garbage  can  or  allow  them  to  con- 
vert into  a biology  experiment  in  the  fridge 
or  freezer.  Before  being  deposited  in  its 
final  resting  place,  however,  the  catch  must 
be  properly  shown  to  all  who  may  care 
about  seeing  it  and  a good  number  of  those 
who  don’t — particularly  anyone  who  might 
be  inclined  to  be  jealous  or  unlucky  enough 


by  Jim  Bashline 


to  have  caught 
particular  day. 

This  angler  must  also  have  the  biggest 
or  most  of  everything  and  never  misses  a 
chance  to  tell  the  world  about  it.  At  non- 
angling pursuits  the  Greedy  (also  known 
as  fish  hog)  goes  far  beyond  healthy  com- 
petitiveness in  being  mind-impaired  about 
owning  the  biggest  car,  longest  trailer,  most 
credit  cards,  biggest  boat  or  two  more  of 
anything  than  you  own. 


THE  PACK  RAT  ANGLER’ 


This  person  fishes  just  to  show  off;  he 
doesn’t  really  enjoy  fishing;  it’s  simply 
another  way  to  demonstrate  what  he  thinks 
is  superiority.  Nonetheless,  it’s  still  a rea- 
son to  fish.  Don’t  we  all  know  one  of 
these  people? 


4 July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


'//  '///  //  fry  yry/  'f/ 

“THE  GROUPIE ” 


The  Competitor,  another  easily  identifia- 
ble category  of  anglers,  is  similar  to  the 
FPF  in  that  he  may  or  may  not  wear  a 
black  hat.  I have  fished  with  some  out- 
standing competitive  anglers  who  were 
quick  to  help  a novice,  offer  a useful  tip 
to  an  experienced  angler  and  otherwise  be 
fine  folks  to  be  with.  But  they  must  catch 
more  or  bigger  fish  before  the  day  ends, 
or  they’ll  be  very  unhappy. 

In  the  case  of  the  Competitor  angler, 
this  drive  to  be  first  can  be  seen  in  other 
pursuits,  and  if  it  is,  that  person  is  quite 
likely  to  be  extremely  productive  as  a 
worker,  salesman,  company  president  or 
what  have  you.  He’s  usually  a winner  if 
(and  this  is  a big  if)  he  doesn’t  allow  an 
occasional  loss  to  cloud  judgment.  The 
serious  Competitor  swallows  his  pride, 
learns  from  mistakes  and  vows  never  to 
let  it  happen  again.  He  may  not  be  the 
happiest  angler,  but  he’s  got  a reason  for 
fishing.  He  likes  to  win! 

The  Loner  is  not  quite  as  common  as  he 
used  to  be  because  there  are  fewer  and 
fewer  places  in  this  angling  world  where 
it’s  possible  to  be  alone  for  a full  day.  For 
\ this  reason,  Pennsylvania  Loners  tend  to 
be  small-brook  trout  fishermen  or  river 
anglers  who  own  motorless  canoes. 

The  Loner  likely  knows  a bit  more  about 


his  quarry’s  life  history  than  do  most  an- 
glers, and  wants  to  learn  more.  His  tackle 
may  not  be  refined  or  expensive,  and  in 
fact,  he  may  spend  far  more  time  watching 
birds,  picking  mushrooms  or  contemplat- 
ing cloud  formations  than  actually  fishing. 
He  may  keep  a few  fish  for  the  pan  or  he 
may  not.  Being  alone  and  having  the  chance 
to  talk  to  himself  (if  he  chooses)  is  what 
the  Loner  seeks. 

In  other  walks  of  life  the  Loner  may  be 
the  gabbiest  person  in  a square  mile,  but 
he  knows  that  being  alone  at  frequent  in- 
tervals is  the  best  battery  charger  he’s  found 
yet.  Some  of  us  need  solitude  from  time 
to  time  and  carrying  a fishing  rod  provides 
the  excuse  to  enjoy  some  of  it. 

The  flip-side  of  the  Loner  is  the  Groupie. 
The  Groupie  can  be  an  accomplished  an- 
gler but  more  frequently  he’s  not.  He  only 
fishes  with  others  and  seldom  sticks  with 
it  more  than  five  minutes  if  he’s  forced  to 
fish  alone.  He’s  the  person  who  will  row 
12  miles  to  ask  the  only  other  person  on 
a lake  the  size  of  New  Jersey,  "Howar 
they  bitin’?”  He  doesn’t  really  care  how 
they’re  biting,  he  just  wants  to  talk  to 
somebody  and  pass  the  time  of  day. 

The  Groupie  always  has  a thermos  of 
coffee  or  something  to  share,  an  extra  leader 
if  you  need  it  or  a deck  of  cards  in  case 
it’s  raining  too  hard  to  fish.  The  gregarious 
Groupie  really  likes  to  talk  and  because 
most  anglers  are  good  at  it,  he  has  decided 
to  stay  with  fishing  as  his  chosen  free- 
time activity. 

The  Pack  Rat  Angler  (PRA)  never  throws 
anything  away  and  is  constantly  acquiring 
more  and  more  tackle.  Like  the  Groupie, 
he  may  be  a fine  practitioner,  but  he  can’t 
fish  as  much  as  others  because  he’s  com- 
pelled to  be  continually  rearranging  his 
tackle  and  fly  boxes,  studying  tackle  cat- 
alogs, showing  his  newest  computer-driven 
reel  to  all  who  will  look,  fussing  with  his 
boat  and  motor  or  building  an  addition 
onto  the  garage  to  house  his  rod  collection. 

An  incurable  tinkerer,  the  PRA  is  al- 
ways talking  about  his  sport  and  dearly 
loves  to  “help”  others.  Merely  gathering 
tackle  and  other  fishing  accoutrements  is 
this  person’s  reason  for  fishing.  He’s  not 
snobbish  about  it.  He  really  loves  this 
“pride  of  ownership”  thing  and  some 
family  member  will  be  able  to  hold  a mon- 
umental yard  sale  some  day. 


The  Insect  Gatherer  is,  by  genetic  im- 
pulse, a fly  fisherman.  He  must  tie  his 
own  flies  and  the  best  of  these  are  rea- 
sonable facsimiles  of  real  creatures  he’s 
snared,  netted  or  snatched  from  beneath 
rocks.  Here  again,  the  1G  (curiously,  “IG" 
in  military  parlance  stands  for  Inspector 
General,  a not  dissimilar  title)  can  be  a 
highly  accomplished  angler.  He  could  also 
be  the  worst  stumblebum  ever  seen  on  a 
trout  stream — but  no  matter,  his  reason 
for  being  there  is  to  KNOW  what  the  fish 
are  taking.  Catching  them  is  of 
little  consequence. 

I promised  myself,  when  I began  writ- 
ing this,  that  I'd  refrain  from  mentioning 
any  names.  The  idea  was  to  encourage 
readers  to  fill  in  the  blanks  with  people 
they  knew  who  fit  the  various  categories. 
But  I can’t  help  but  recall  the  most  mem- 
orable IG  I ever  knew.  He  was  the  late 
Don  DuBois  of  Boiling  Springs.  Dr. 
DuBois  was  a behavioral  scientist  who  truly 
lived  in  a world  of  his  own  design. 

I thoroughly  enjoyed  being  with  him  on 
many  occasions  because  of  his  enthusiasm 
for  capturing  insects  and  his  subsequent 
attempts  to  duplicate  them  with  materials 
ranging  from  the  sublime  to  the  prepos- 
terous. Don  once  made  a Japanese  beetle 
out  of  a kemal  of  com  that  featured  legs 
of  surgical  suture  thread  and  wings  fash- 
ioned from  green  cellophane.  Construc- 
tion of  the  bogus  bug  required  three  days 
and  as  I recall,  he  caught  one  fish  with  it. 

Don  was  also  the  only  angler  I ever 
knew  who  stepped  on  the  tip  of  his  own 
rod  while  putting  it  together.  Examining 
the  insects  was  Don's  reason  for  fishing 
and  he  loved  it.  We  miss  you,  Don — and 
I hope  you’ve  got  a new  rod  wherever 
you  are. 

Then  we  have  the  Good  Parent  Fisher- 
man. This  dad  or  mom  didn't  start  out 
wanting  to  fish  but  has  some  little  ones 
who  forced  him  or  her  into  it.  A noble 
type  indeed,  and  I can  find  real  love  for 
them  as  long  as  they  don’t  constantly  re- 
mind me  just  how  noble  they  are! 

The  opposite  of  the  Good  Parent  Fish- 
erman is  the  ETFF , the  Escape-The-Fam- 
ily  Fisherman.  This  guy  doesn't  really  care 
what  he’s  doing  as  long  as  it  gets  him 
away  from  the  house.  To  avoid  being  la- 
beled a MCP  (and  you  women  know  what 
that  stands  for).  I’ll  not  get  into  the  causes 
that  create  ETFFs. 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


5 


The  Snobbish  Copy-Cat  Angler  (SCCA) 
has  a peculiar  need  to  emulate  important 
people  or  people  he  admires  because  they 
hsh  or  in  the  case  of  today’s  yuppies,  be- 
cause it’s  the  “in”  thing.  Fly  fishing  is 
usually  chosen  by  this  person  because  it 
leads  to  all  sorts  of  snobbish  equipment 
and  loads  of  equally  obscure  literature. 
The  tackle  companies  love  SCCAs,  and 
of  course,  so  do  tackle  shop  owners.  These 
folks  buy  anything  that  adds  to  their  self- 
made  aura  of  elegance.  A significant  num- 
ber of  SCAAs  seldom,  if  ever,  use  any  of 
their  neat  equipment.  This  matters  not  be- 
cause image  is  what  they  fish  for. 

Fishing  is  the  only 
sport  Vm  aware  of 
where  a human  being 
can  effect  a visible 
connection  between 
himself  and  a wild 
creature. 


There  are  other  reasons  why  people  fish, 
and  I’m  sure  none  of  the  ones  I’ve  men- 
tioned fits  you  perfectly.  Oh  sure,  you 
know  others  who  fall  into  one  of  these 
groupings  but  certainly  not  you. 
Right?  Right. 

The  reason  most  of  us  don’t  fit  into  any 
single  slot  is  that  we  change  our  reasons 
as  we  grow  older  and  hopefully  wiser. 
Sometimes  we  even  become  different  kinds 
of  anglers  on  the  same  trip  or  show  signs 
of  being  composites  of  all  of  them.  Fishing 
can  be  the  simplest  sport  or  the  most  ex- 
acting. It  depends  on  how  deeply  you  want 
to  get  involved. 

I confess  that  I think  I’ve  gone  through 
all  of  the  reasons  listed — and  then  some — 
with  a result  of  liking  fishing  even  more 
than  I did  40  years  ago.  I’m  not  sure  I’m 
any  better  at  it  than  I was,  but  I’ve  cer- 
tainly learned  to  be  less  anxious  about 
bringing  a lot  of  fish  into  the  kitchen. 

I fish  with  flies  and  surface  lures  more 
these  days,  not  because  I’m  a bait-hater 
but  simply  because  seeing  the  strike  gives 
me  more  pleasure.  I’m  tending  to  enjoy 
fishing  with  other  people  much  more  than 
1 used  to — maybe  because  it’s  more  fun 
to  talk  to  someone  other  than  yourself  when 
the  fish  aren’t  cooperating. 

I'm  sorry  I wasn’t  more  of  a Good  Par- 
ent Fisherman  when  my  children  were 


small.  1 was  a Loner  then  and  didn’t  offer 
as  much  angling  help  as  I should  have. 
I’ve  been  highly  competitive  at  times  when 
an  obnoxious  Greedy  was  doing  well  and 
I wasn't.  I’ve  always  been  a Pack  Rat  of 
sorts  and  some  of  my  best  friends  have 
accused  me  of  being  an  SCCA  at  times. 

No  matter.  I’ll  happily  wear  any  or  all 
of  the  labels  when  they  apply  because  as 
someone  once  observed,  “Any  fishing  is 
better  than  no  fishing.” 

At  the  risk  of  sounding  mystical,  I have 
come  around  to  believing  that  there  is  one 
highly  complicated  reason  most  of  us  fish. 
For  those  who  don’t  fish  or  those  who 
think  fishing  is  cruel,  this  may  sound 
strange,  but  here  goes:  Fishing  is  the  only 
sport  I’m  aware  of  where  a human  being 
can  effect  a visible  connection  between 
himself  and  a wild  creature.  The  throb- 
bing, jerking,  scooting  and  jumping  a fish 
performs  to  escape  the  hook  sends  a thrill- 
ing, and  yes,  sensuous  vibration  into  the 
rod  hand  and  your  entire  body.  If  you  have 
the  heart  of  an  angler,  this  sensation  brings 
you  back  again  and  again. 

I am  still  thrilled  when  a sizable  fish 
smacks  my  lure  or  fly  and  a bend  of  con- 
sequence appears  in  the  rod.  I still  shout 
when  a bass,  salmon  or  shad  flings  itself 
into  the  air  in  a wild  attempt  to  shake  the 
hook.  Seeing  it  do  so  provides  part  of  the 
excitement,  but  feeling  it  in  the  rod  hand 
is  as  much  of  a thrill  as  most  mortals  can 
expect.  At  least,  this  mortal. 

A visible  connection  can  be  argued  as 
being  possible  in  snake  hunting,  cattle  rop- 
ing, whale  harpooning  or  a number  of  other 
things  done  with  lines  and  ropes.  But  only 
in  fishing  does  this  connection  come  about 
because  of  your  skill  (or  luck)  in  outwit- 
ting the  prey.  Yes,  man  is  the  ultimate 
predator  of  all  creatures  great  and  small, 
but  again,  only  in  fishing  do  we  have  so 
many  options  involving  how  we  coax  that 
fish  to  strike. 

I readily  admit  that  some  of  the  reasons 
we  fish  listed  previously  in  the  offering 
were  concocted  with  some  tongue  in  cheek. 
They  do,  however,  have  a ring  of  truth 
about  them.  But  I’ll  bet  my  best  pair  of 
waders  that  the  next  time  you  hook  a fish 
and  feel  it  pulling  and  jerking,  sending 
those  vibrations  into  your  hand,  you’ll  agree 
with  me  if  you  give  it  a moment’s  thought. 
All  of  the  other  excuses  to  fish  are  strictly 
secondary  ones  compared  to  the  kid-like 
thrill  we  feel  when  we  hook  another  one. 
And  kids  answer,  as  most  of  us  do,  when 
asked  why  they  fish. 

“I  just  like  to — that’s  all.” 

[pa] 


6 July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration — George  Lavanish 


/ fin  / irhvar 


The 

Canoeable, 

Canoeable 

Clarion 

by  L en  Licfivar 

Canoes  and  fishermen  don’t  always 
mix.  River  anglers  seldom  appre- 
ciate the  clang  and  clatter  associ- 
ated with  recreational  river  floaters  as  they 
pass  by  a favorite  fishing  locale.  However, 
there  is  a waterway  where  anglers  and 
canoeists  can  blend  together  and 
become  one. 

The  Clarion  River  flows  majestically 
from  its  origins  north  of  Ridgway  in  Elk 
County  through  Jefferson,  Forest  and 
Clarion  counties  to  its  confluence  with  the 
Allegheny  River.  Many  recreational  ca- 
noeists already  know  this  water  well.  The 
river’s  fame  is  well-deserved  because  the 
moderate  flow  and  average  depth  of  sev- 
eral feet  make  the  Clarion  ideally  suited 
to  canoeists’  needs.  Another  plus,  espe- 
cially for  the  novice,  is  that  the  Clarion  is 
relatively  free  of  major  rapids  throughout 
its  entire  length. 

The  Clarion  is  not  so  widely  recognized 
for  its  fishing  potential.  The  river  harbors 
a fine  natural  population  of  smallmouth 
bass.  Large  boulders  creating  deep  eddies 
and  pockets  provide  excellent  holding  water 
for  the  bronzebacks.  An  abundant  supply 
of  forage  fish  is  another  advantage  that 
allows  the  smallmouths  to  flourish. 

Angling  was  not  always  this  advanta- 
geous on  the  Clarion.  As  recently  as  the 
1970s,  the  river  ran  foul  with  discharges 
from  a paper  mill  and  abandoned  mines. 
Little  recreation  of  any  sort  was  available 
in  the  river  valley  at  that  time.  The  river 
had  a turn  of  luck  in  the  1970s,  as  cleanup 
operations  began  to  overcome  many  of  the 
pollution  problems.  Cleanup  activities  by 
the  Johnsonburg  Paper  Company  north  of 
Ridgway  and  mine  reclamation  spear- 
headed by  the  Department  of  Environ- 
mental Resources  began  to  have  dramatic 
effects  on  the  water  quality  of  the  Clarion. 


The  Clarion  River  lets  anglers  and  canoeists 
have  the  best  of  both  worlds. 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 


The  Fish  Commission’s  monitoring  the 
pollution  and  subsequent  legal  actions  to 
protect  the  waterway  were  also  major 
milestones  in  the  river’s  cleanup. 

The  Western  Pennsylvania  Conser- 
vancy also  became  involved  with  the  river 
corridor  around  this  time.  The  Conser- 
vancy began  acquiring  parcels  along  the 
Clarion,  thus  preserving  the  restored  ad- 
joining lands.  Today  the  Clarion’s  re- 
moteness may  be  the  only  reason  why  an- 
gling pressure  throughout  the  summer  is 
anything  but  heavy. 

10-inile  stretch 

My  fishing  partner  Lester  McNutt  and 
I floated  the  Irwintown  to  Belltown  section 
of  the  river.  This  stretch  is  a distance  of 
1 0 miles  and  is  one  of  the  most  productive 
angling  sections  of  the  Clarion.  We  sought 
the  Clarion  River  smallmouths  and  we 
found  the  quarry  willing  to  be  duped  by 
spinners,  streamers  and  artificial  fly  imi- 


tations of  hellgrammites. 

Tackle  for  floating  and  fishing  a river 
of  this  size  does  not  have  to  be  overly 
specialized.  A 5-foot  or  6-foot  graphite 
casting  rod  and  closed-face  reel  allow  quick, 
accurate  casting  while  drifting.  A wide 
array  of  favorite  bass  lures  functions  well 
on  the  Clarion,  but  the  smallmouths  we 
encountered  exhibited  a fondness  for  small 
chartreuse  spinners. 

Fly  fishing  tackle  should  not  be  over- 
looked for  float  fishing,  either.  With  the 
increasing  number  of  warmwater  fly  rod 
enthusiasts  the  corresponding  number  of 
effective  fly  patterns  available  has  ex- 
panded accordingly.  These  succulent  of- 
ferings put  the  fly  rodder  on  an  even  foot- 
ing with  the  most  realistic  plastic  and  metal 
fakes  of  today’s  lure  angler. 

Fly  casting  from  a canoe  is  also  no  more 
difficult  than  casting  from  any  other  lo- 
cation. Float  close  to  one  shoreline  or  the 
other  and  place  your  casts  into  the  shaded 


8 July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


r 


Clarion  River 


Clarion 
River 


regions,  which  abound  on  the  Clarion.  This 
tactic  allows  plenty  of  room  for  backcasts, 
eliminating  one  of  the  problems  that  plagues 
many  shore-bound  fly  rodders.  Remember 
to  remain  seated  in  your  canoe  while  cast- 
ing and  playing  fish. 

Casting  our  imitations  from  an  alumi- 
num canoe,  we  were  able  to  concentrate 
on  likely  looking  sections  of  water  and 
quickly  bypass  the  less-than-inviting  areas. 
In  places  where  we  wanted  more  time  than 
a slow  float  could  provide,  we  easily 
beached  the  17-foot  conveyance  and  walked 
the  shoreline,  plying  the  water  as  we  went. 

Trout 

In  addition  to  the  bass  found  in  the  Clar- 
ion, there  is  an  increasing  supply  of  trout 
to  be  found  in  the  river.  The  Fish  Com- 
mission has  been  stocking  fingerlings  in 
the  river  for  a number  of  years  and  many 
of  these  trout  have  reached  maturity. 

Fine  catches  of  above-average-sized 
brown  trout  are  reported  taken  from  the 
Clarion  each  year.  For  anglers  who  would 
like  to  concentrate  on  the  trout,  the  best 


bets  are  to  locate  the  numerous  cold,  spring- 
fed  streams  that  enter  the  Clarion.  These 
streams  put  additional  cool  water  into  the 
river’s  otherwise  warm  flow.  The  trout, 
although  normally  scattered  throughout  the 
river,  are  often  found  bunched  up  at  the 
mouths  of  these  tributary  streams  as  the 
water  volume  decreases  and  temperatures 
rise  throughout  the  summer  season. 

As  we  drifted  along,  we  realized  why 
this  river  is  so  popular  with  the  canoeing- 
for-relaxation  crowd.  The  Clarion  flows 
through  one  of  the  most  scenic  valleys  in 
the  Northeast.  Steep,  forested  hillsides  rise 
hundreds  of  feet  above  the  river.  Few  per- 
manent buildings  can  be  seen,  and  vari- 
eties of  waterfowl  and  wildlife  are  your 
constant  companions. 

If  float  fishing  is  not  your  fare,  the  Clar- 
ion still  has  angling  excitement  available 
for  you.  Despite  its  remoteness  there  are 
some  unpaved  roads  that  parallel  the  river 
for  much  of  its  length.  These  roads  give 
easy  access  for  shore  fishermen  and  pro- 
vide a quick  exit  for  canoeists  or  rafters 
in  an  emergency. 


Access 

For  those  looking  to  experience  the 
Clarion  River,  for  float  fishing  or  just  for 
leisurely  floating  the  river,  a fine  place  to 
begin  would  be  the  Belltown  Canoe  Rental 
off  Route  949  in  Belltown.  The  finest  water 
to  float  through  the  summer  on  the  Clarion 
is  from  Ridgway  downstream  to  Bell- 
town. Below  Belltown  the  water  levels  in 
late  spring  and  summer  are  too  low  for 
enjoyable  floats. 

Another  fine  source  of  Clarion  River 
information  is  the  Western  Pennsylvania 
Conservancy.  It  has  published  an  excellent 
river  access  map  of  the  Clarion  for  those 
who  wish  to  attempt  the  water  on  their 
own.  The  map  is  available  from  the  group 
at  316  Fourth  Avenue,  Pittsburgh,  PA 
15222.  The  cost  is  $1  postpaid  for 
nonmembers. 

This  unique  river  valley  exhibits  chal- 
lenges for  smallmouth  bass  and  trout  fish- 
ermen and  allows  the  angler  in  search  of 
both  to  combine  leisurely  canoeing  with 
serious  angling.  [771 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


An  8], -foot  fly  rod  matched  with  WF9F  line  is  a good 
choice  for  getting  started.  Look  for  bass  near  cover — 
anything  that  gives  them  shade  and  a sense  of  security. 


Getting 

Hooked 

on 

Bass 

Bugging 

by  Joe  Reynolds 

My  first  experience  with  bass  bugging  was 
in  the  summer  of  1949,  handling  the  oars 
of  a heavy,  leaky,  wooden  rowboat  while 
my  dad  threw  poppers  for  largemouth  bass 
that  lived  around  the  piers  on  Seneca  Creek, 
a brackish  tributary  of  the  upper  Chesa- 
peake Bay. 

Being  asked  to  row  was  quite  an  honor 
for  a 10-year-old.  Until  then  I had  been 
satisfied  to  dangle  worms  for  fat  bluegills 
that  also  found  homes  around  Seneca’s 
piers.  At  some  point  during  each  trip  dad 
took  over  the  oars  and  let  me  practice 
casting,  after  he’d  removed  the  popper. 
By  summer’s  end  he  decided  it  was  time 

1 had  my  own  tackle. 

I received  my  new  fly  rod  outfit  and  an 
annual  back-to-school  haircut  on  the  same 
day,  a convenient  circumstance  because 
our  barber  cut  hair  on  one  side  of  his  shop 
and  sold  tackle  on  the  other.  The  rod  was 
fiberglass,  82  feet  long  and  rated  for  a “B” 
line.  Dad  chose  a level  line — tapered  ones 
were  too  expensive— and  a Royalist  sin- 
gle-action fly  reel  that  still  sees  duty  on 
occasion. 

That  evening  I took  my  first  largemouth 
bass  on  a popper,  probably  a fish  around 

2 pounds,  but  a 10-pounder  wouldn’t  have 
caused  more  excitement.  I’ve  been  hooked 
on  popping  bugs  ever  since. 

Over  the  years  I’ve  had  an  opportunity 
to  throw  poppers  in  many  parts  of  the 
world  for  a wide  variety  of  freshwater  and 
saltwater  gamefish.  However,  like  Atlan- 
tic salmon,  forever  imprinted  with  their 
origins,  I cannot  long  resist  the  silent, 
compelling  call  of  the  largemouth  bass. 


10  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Joe  Reynolds 


Throwing  poppers  and  bugs  for  bass  is 
addictive,  but  not  because  it  is  the  most 
effective  method  on  bass.  On  the  contrary, 
in  many  instances  the  fly  fisherman  is  at 
a disadvantage.  It  is  no  different  from 
throwing  surface  lures  with  other  tackle. 
It  is  effective  only  at  certain  times  of  the 
year  or  in  waters  where  bass  are  restricted 
to  relatively  shallow  water. 

Fly  fishermen  anticipate  spring  and  fall. 
Some  throw  bugs  all  the  time,  often  against 
all  odds,  knowing  they  have  a better  chance 
of  being  hit  by  lightning  than  seeing  their 
popper  inhaled  by  a bass.  It's  a search  for 
the  Holy  Grail,  the  perfect  topwater  lake 
where  the  shoreline  is  peppered  with  cover 
and  five-pounders  inhabit  every  likely  spot. 

But  you  must  be  prepared  for  the  day 
your  Promised  Land  is  discovered  It  is 
not  easy  to  become  a good  fly  caster,  re- 
gardless of  what  has  been  written  or  said 
to  the  contrary.  Becoming  proficient  takes 
practice;  it  takes  desire;  it  takes  patience. 

If  learning  to  fly  cast  is  difficult,  then 
throwing  bugs  is  double  trouble.  Fly  cast- 
ing is  easiest  with  no  fly;  big,  wind  re- 
sistant bugs  are  a real  challenge.  Show  me 
all  the  fly  fishermen  who  can  consistently 
throw  a big  bug  90  feet  from  the  boat  and 
I’ll  show  you  a relatively  small  group  of 
people.  Fortunately,  most  bass  can  be  taken 
with  casts  of  30  to  40  feet,  and  that  kind 
of  performance  is  possible  for  anyone  who 
can  walk  and  chew  gum  at  the  same  time. 

Line 

Begin  with  nothing  less  than  the  proper 
equipment.  Fly  line  is  the  first  consider- 
ation and  I believe  the  beginner  should 
start  with  a size  9 line.  Purchase  the  size 
9 line  in  what  is  called  a weight-forward 
taper,  floating  line.  Ask  the  sales  clerk  for 
a WF9F  fly  line,  to  be  exact.  That’s  a bit 
on  the  heavy  side,  compared  to  a size  5 
line  for  trout  fishing,  but  lighter  than  the 
size  10  or  size  11  used  in  salt  water. 

Remember  that  in  fly  casting  the  line 
itself  provides  casting  weight;  the  fly  or 
bug  just  goes  along  for  the  ride.  Follow 
this  general  rule:  Use  light  line  with  small 
flies,  heavy  lines  with  large  flies  and  bugs. 

It’s  possible  to  get  by  with  lighter  lines 
and  small,  bluegill-sized  bugs,  but  big  bass 
are  more  likely  to  hit  a big  bug.  Norm 
Bartlett,  a fellow  addict  and  long-time 
fishing  buddy,  known  in  some  circles  as 
“Mr.  Popping  Bugs,”  tells  me,  “All  the 
bass  I’ve  caught  over  four  pounds  were 
caught  on  big  bugs.” 

Rod,  bugs 

The  bugging  rod  should  be  85  feet  long 


(give  or  take  a few  inches),  made  of  graph- 
ite, and  rated  by  the  manufacturer  for  han- 
dling a size  8 or  9 fly  line.  Graphite  rods 
tend  to  handle  a wider  range  of  line  sizes, 
and  they  are  lighter  and  more  powerful 
than  comparable  fiberglass  models.  Prices 
on  graphite  have  dropped  to  the  point  where 
a fiberglass  rod  should  not  even  be  con- 
sidered. Any  single-action  reel  completes 
the  basic  outfit. 

Popping  bugs  come  in  all  shapes,  sizes 
and  colors.  Forget  color.  The  bass  don’t 
care,  although  I like  a bug  that’s  easy  to 
see  on  the  water. 

Bartlett  is  an  expert  when  it  comes  to 
designing  and  building  bugs.  “A  few  years 
back  I used  to  make  and  sell  popping  bugs,” 
he  explains.  “Somewhere  along  the  way 
I picked  up  the  name  ’Mr.  Popping  Bugs.’ 

“In  my  opinion  the  best  bugs  are  made 
of  balsa  wood.  They  cast  better,  mainly 
because  balsa  is  so  light.  One  problem  is 
that  balsa  absorbs  water,  so  it  has  to  be 
sealed.  A good  waterproof  paint  is  best. 
1 tried  epoxy  but  it  adds  too  much  weight. 
Dense  styrofoam  is  good  but  you  need 
molds  to  make  bug  bodies  with  this.” 

Cork  is  probably  the  most  popular  bug 
body  material.  It  is  somewhat  heavier  than 
balsa  but  is  durable  and  easier  to  work. 
Many  bugs  are  also  made  with  deer  hair. 
These  have  a soft,  natural  feel  so  a bass 
is  likely  to  hang  on  longer  if  you  don't 
react  quickly  to  a strike.  One  drawback  to 
the  hair  bugs  is  that  they  absorb  water  after 
some  use,  and  become  heavy. 

Whatever  the  body  material,  if  a bug 
isn’t  constructed  properly  it  will  spin  and 
cause  line  twist.  The  hook  must  be  set 
perfectly  straight  in  the  body  and  any 
feathers  or  hair  added  to  the  tail  must  be 
properly  balanced  to  prevent  spinning.  Most 
of  the  time  you  can’t  spot  a spinner  until 
you  start  casting.  If  a bug  spins,  you  might 
as  well  throw  it  away. 

Some  anglers  avoid  balsa  because  it  is 
fragile.  “One  year  I was  at  a fly  fisher- 
men’s dinner,”  Bartlett  recalls,  “when  a 
friend  of  mine  showed  a couple  of  my 
balsa  bugs  to  Lee  Wulff.  Lee  didn't  like 
them;  said  they  were  too  delicate. 

“But  my  feeling  is  that  if  a bug  caught 
one  bass,  it  had  served  its  purpose,  es- 
pecially if  the  bass  was  a 4-  or  5-pounder. 
I knew  the  bug  was  delicate  but  I felt  like 
I was  putting  out  the  best  trap  I could  set 
for  a bass.  And  forget  the  expense.  I was 
building  them  myself  anyway.  Those  mar- 
abou bugs  were  something  else.  The 
breathing  action  of  the  marabou  and  the 
buoyancy  of  the  balsa  made  a lively  look- 
ing, enticing  presentation. 


“Yeah,  balsa  is  delicate  but  I remember 
taking  eight  bass  from  3 to  6 pounds  one 
day — all  on  the  same  bug.” 

For  fishing  in  snags,  weeds  and  pads  I 
prefer  a soft-bodied  deer  hair  bug  tied  on 
a keel-style  hook.  This  bug  sits  on  the 
water  with  the  point  up  rather  than  down 
and  can  be  retrieved  through  nearly  any 
cover  without  snagging.  Some  fishermen 
complain  about  the  hooking  qualities  of 
the  design  but  I have  never  experienced 
any  difficulties. 

How  a bug  is  worked  can  be  important, 
too.  With  calm,  clear  water  I tend  to  cast 
and  let  the  bug  set  a lot  longer,  and  work 
it  a lot  slower  than  on  choppy  water.  Some 
of  the  better  bass  buggers  seem  to  take  a 
nap  after  making  a cast.  One  exception 
might  be  when  using  the  slider-type  bug; 
it  may  be  worked  fairly  fast  on  calm  water. 

When  to  use  bugs 

Spring  and  fall  are  the  prime  times  for 
throwing  popping  bugs.  That's  when  bass 
are  most  likely  to  be  in  shallow  water, 
especially  on  large  lakes  and  reservoirs. 
Fish  bugs  during  the  same  times  you  might 
ordinarily  try  surface  plugs  w'ith  other  gear. 

During  summer  it’s  mostly  a dawn  and 
dusk  situation.  Remember  that  the  bass 
must  be  in  relatively  shallow  water  before 
a bug,  or  any  surface  lure,  draws  strikes. 
Bass  aren’t  going  to  come  up  more  than 
four  to  six  feet  to  hit  something  on 
the  surface. 

Look  for  largemouths  around  cover — 
grass,  fallen  logs,  pads — anything  that 
provides  them  with  a little  shade  and  a 
sense  of  security.  Keep  the  rod  pointed 
straight  at  the  bug  after  making  a cast. 
This  reduces  slack  line  and  allows  you  to 
set  the  hook  with  a quick  flick  of  your 
stripping  hand  while  raising  the  rod  tip. 
Quite  often  a bass  inhales  a bug  just  as  it 
touches  the  water.  It’s  almost  as  if  it  were 
down  there  waiting  for  the  bug  to  land. 
Lose  concentration  and  you'll  miss  strikes. 

The  bass  will  come,  provided  you  take 
the  time  to  master  fly  casting.  Frustration 
is  the  enemy.  It’s  too  easy  to  put  down 
the  fly  rod  and  pick  up  a spinning  outfit 
when  the  casting  isn’t  going  well.  Stay 
with  the  long  rod  and  at  some  point  the 
coordination  and  timing  will  all  come  to- 
gether. It’s  a slow  process  but  one  day 
you'll  be  throwing  a popping  bug  60  feet 
or  more  without  thinking  of  the  mechan- 
ics. By  then  you’ll  be  well  on  your  way 
to  addiction,  and  there  will  be  no 
turning  back. 

[77] 


July  1988  Pennsy  lvania  Angler  1 1 


by  Jim  Mize 


Boaters,  we’re  facing  the  greatest  threat 
to  the  quality  of  boating  of  the  20th  cen- 
tury. Now  is  the  time  to  band  together  and 
take  action.  Let  me  explain. 

I flew  out  of  Pittsburgh  last  week,  and 
sitting  next  to  me  was  a fireplug  of  a man 
wearing  a gray  pinstriped  suit  and  a starched 
white  shirt.  His  cuff  links  alone  cost  more 
than  my  plane  ticket.  As  we  took  off,  he 
reached  into  his  shirt  pocket  and  pulled 
out  a slim,  gold  pen  and  began  to  doodle 
on  a cocktail  napkin. 

As  I watched  his  doodling,  a boat  took 
shape.  Had  I been  a cat,  curiosity  would 
have  done  me  in  years  ago.  So  I engaged 
the  gent  in  small  talk  to  see  what  he  was 
up  to.  When  he  talked,  he  blinked  excit- 
edly. In  his  gray  suit  he  looked  like  a well- 
dressed  mole. 

“Where  you  headed?”  1 asked  for  my 
lead  question. 

“Detroit.” 

“On  your  way  home?” 

“Yes.” 

Having  now  passed  the  mandatory  trav- 
eler chit  chat  period,  I got  to  the  matter 
on  the  napkin. 

“What’cha  do  for  a living?” 

Realizing  that  I planned  to  pester  him 
for  a while,  he  laid  down  his  pen. 

“I  work  for  a custom  auto  parts  com- 
pany. We  make  add-ons  for  cars.  I’m  in 
new-business  development  and  have  been 
assigned  to  boats.” 

“You’re  going  to  put  car  parts  on  boats?’  ’ 
I asked  incredulously. 

Amazed  that  anyone  of  my  intelligence 
could  be  so  misinformed,  or  else  just 
thinking  me  stupid,  he  started  talking  more 
slowly  and  used  hand  gestures. 

“No,  no,  no.  We  believe  there  is  a 


business  opportunity  to  customize  boats 
the  way  we  do  cars.  Car  owners  spend 
thousands  of  dollars  making  a Volkswa- 
gen look  like  a Mercedes,  or  customizing 
a compact  to  stand  out  in  a parking  lot. 
These  same  people  own  boats.” 

“Does  this  look  like  a big  business?” 
“Massive,  just  massive.  Our  market  re- 
search tells  us  that  one  boat  in  three  will 
be  customized  within  the  next  five  years.” 
“Wow.  That’s  a lot  of  boats.  What  kind 
of  products  do  you  have  in  mind?” 

The  fireplug  looked  around  and  asked, 
“You  don’t  work  in  parts,  do  you?” 
“No  sir.” 


“Well,  okay,  but  this  is  top-secret  stuff. 
I could  lose  my  job  for  telling  you.” 
Bonded  in  secrecy,  we  shrank  down 
into  our  seats  and  he  continued  to  whisper. 

“Motor  covers.  We’ll  sell  millions.  We 
can  make  a motor  cover  with  any  brand 
name  you  want  and  a “250hp”  decal.  It 
will  snap  over  any  outboard,  50hp  and 
down,  to  give  the  appearance  of  a really 
hot  rig.  All  of  the  other  boaters  will  think 
you’re  just  idling  out  of  courtesy,  even 
when  you’re  flat  out.” 

“Wow,  are  boaters  really  that  vain?” 
“Oh  sure.  Aren’t  they  the  same  guys 


12  July  1 988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illi  ictratinn — Tori  Wallro 


who  buy  four-wheel  drive  jeeps  for  down- 
town traffic?” 

‘‘Yeah,  I guess  you’re  right.  What  else.” 
‘‘Homs.  We  can  play  a tune  from  ’’The 
Star  Spangled  Banner”  to  ’’Merrily  We 
Roll  Along”  and  be  heard  for  two  miles 
over  water.” 

“Won’t  that  be  awfully  noisy?” 

“Hey,  I just  sell  these  things.  You  should 
see  some  of  our  sideboard  snap-ons.” 
“What  do  they  do?” 

“In  just  15  minutes  you  can  clamp  a 
panel  on  each  side  of  a john  boat  or  canoe 
and  look  like  an  18-foot  Bayliner.  Toss  in 
the  motor  cover  and  change  the  look  of 


your  boat  for  under  $800.” 

Stewardesses  were  starting  to  watch  this 
guy’s  hand  gestures  and  excited  expres- 
sions, but  he  was  on  a roll  now. 

“We’re  even  working  with  boat  reg- 
istration people  to  create  custom  numbers, 
like  the  license  plates  for  cars.  Names  like 
MOBY  and  JAWS  will  bring  over  $200 
apiece.  We  have  a name  list  of  over  10,000 
to  choose  from.  Multiply  that  by  50  states 
and  we’re  into  megabucks. 

“Picture  this,”  he  said  more  excitedly, 
waving  his  hand  in  the  air.  “How 
about  a boat  registration  that  says, 
‘SUSQY,’  OR  ‘MONANGLER’ 


and  ‘RAYSTOWNER’?” 

Sweat  beads  were  on  his  brow  and  his 
voice  had  risen  to  evangelical  tones. 

‘ ‘Trailer  accessories  will  be  a whole  new 
market.  Chrome  wheels,  blinking  run- 
ning lights,  and  a plate  holder  that  says 
‘My  other  boat  is  the  Queen  Mary ’ will 
all  be  hot  items.  This  is  going  to  be  a 
big  business.” 

“Yes,  I can  see  that.” 

“Just  imagine.  A guy  buys  a john  boat 
shell,  brings  it  into  our  custom  shop,  adds 
sideboards,  a motor  cover,  horns,  a cus- 
tom registration  number,  trailer  lights,  and 
a few  other  accessories,  and  he’s  quickly 
into  us  for  $2,000  or  more.  Boating  will 
never  be  the  same.” 

Visions  of  these  custom  boats  emerged  in 
my  mind,  crowding  a lake  with  their  horns 
blaring  and  trailer  lights  blinking  and  1 
realized  that  just  as  I’d  been  warned,  cur- 
iosity had  finally  caught  up  with  the  cat. 

“Yes,  that  would  be  something.  It 
sounds  like  you’ve  thought  of  every- 
thing,” I added  hopefully.  As  I feigned 
drowsiness  and  closed  my  eyes,  he  made 
it  clear  the  conversation  was  not  over. 

“Well,  there  is  one  more  item  we  ex- 
pect on  nearly  every  boat.  Stem  stickers. 
Just  think,  a slogan  on  every  boat.  ‘Your 
mother  is  a musky.’  ‘Boaters  are  dying 
for  a good  wake.’  Or  maybe,  'Honk 
if  you  love  downrigging.’  We’re  still 
working  on  these,  but  again,  we’re 
talking  megabucks.” 

The  pilot  provided  a welcome  interrup- 
tion on  the  intercom,  telling  us  of  the  up- 
coming landing  and  suggesting  we  bring 
our  seats  to  the  upright  position  and 
quit  smoking. 

As  we  taxied  down  the  runway  to  the 
terminal,  I asked  one  last  question. 

“Is  there  anything  that  would  keep  you 
guys  out  of  this  boat  parts  market?” 
“Well,  I suppose  if  the  custom  auto 
business  suddenly  took  off  again,  we 
wouldn’t  have  the  capacity  to  produce  boat 
accessories.”  And  with  this  thought,  my 
fireplug  companion  became  sullen  and  put 
away  his  pen  and  cocktail  napkin. 

So  as  one  boating  angler  to  another.  I’m 
appealing  to  you  with  great  urgency.  If 
you  own  a Volkswagen  Beetle,  convert  it 
to  a Mercedes.  Put  horns  on  your  Olds- 
mobile.  Go  buy  a bumper  sticker  for  your 
pickup.  Do  anything  to  make  the  car  parts 
market  boom.  Please.  Otherwise,  who 
knows  what  might  happen 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


13 


River  Catfish 
Are  a Summer  Treat 

by  Jim  Cronaw 


It’s  a lazy  July  day,  thick  with  haze  and 
humidity.  My  angling  partner  Jimmy  Ay- 
ers and  I drift  down  the  Susquehanna  past 
Duncannon  toward  the  mouth  of  Sher- 
mans Creek.  Reaching  into  the  baitbucket, 
I dip  a lively  chub  and  thread  it  on  my 
hook  through  both  of  the  baitfish’s  lips. 
A short  cast  from  the  boat  lands  the  bait- 
fish  amid  a series  of  boils  that  run  through 
depths  of  4 to  5 feet.  Soon,  a slight  tap- 
tap  signals  a pick-up  and  a strong  run  en- 
sues as  20  feet  of  line  zips  off  my  spool. 
Reaching  out  for  all  the  slack  to  draw,  I 
lean  back  hard  and  my  62- foot  graphite 
stick  immediately  doubles  over  under  the 
strain  of  a powerful,  bulldozing  fish. 

Bass?  Walleye?  Musky?  Heck  no,  this 
is  catfishing,  river  style.  The  horseshoe 
bend  in  my  rod  signals  the  start  of  a long, 
patient  scrap  in  swift,  river  currents.  At 
least  10  minutes  later,  Jimmy  scoops  up 
a big  male  channel  catfish  with  a wide, 
flat  head.  Indeed,  my  wrist  and  forearm 
are  tight  and  sore  after  slugging  it  out  with 
the  eight-pound  whiskerfish. 

For  some  reason,  channel  catfish  still 
have  to  struggle  for  respectability,  even  in 
river  environs  where  they  are  every  bit  as 
much  a predator  as  any  sinallmouth  bass, 
musky  or  walleye.  Like  all  gamefish,  cat- 
ties  are  opportunistic  feeders  when  found 
in  the  larger  rivers  of  the  Commonwealth. 
The  stomach  contents  of  90  percent  of  the 
catfish  we’ve  caught  the  last  several  years 
revealed  minnows  and  crayfish.  This  type 
of  forage  is  obtained  by  active  feeding  and 
ambushing  prey,  not  by  scrounging  along 
the  bottom  in  the  traditional  scavenger  role. 
To  be  successful  at  river  catfishing,  you 
must  treat  them  for  what  they  are — pred- 
ator gamefish. 

Best  baits 

Many  anglers  believe  that  foul-smell- 
ing, commercially  prepared  baits  are  tops 
for  catfish.  True,  they  work,  and  very  well 
under  certain  conditions.  But  for  swiftwa- 
ter  whiskerfish,  the  top  baits  are  either  live 
minnows  or  some  kind  of  fresh  cut  baitfish 
that  is  native  to  the  river  system  you 
are  fishing. 


For  minnows,  we  prefer  large  creek 
shiners,  chubs  or  sucker  minnows.  Bait- 
fish  measuring  4 to  6 inches  long  usually 
draw  strikes  from  4-pound  catfish  and 
larger.  However,  on  some  of  our  late-sum- 
mer  jaunts,  much  smaller  minnows  con- 
sistently attracted  six-pound  catties.  We 
have  also  found  that  commercially  bought 
minnows  usually  don’t  produce  as  well  as 
native  baitfish  that  we  net  from  river  trib- 
utaries. However,  if  you  can’t  net  min- 
nows in  your  area,  store-bought  bait  will 


When  using  cut  bait,  we  prefer  either 
fresh  fallfish  or  carp  and  cut  them  in  3- 
inch  chunks  or  tapered  strips.  Keeping  the 
skin  on  the  bait  chunk  helps  to  secure  the 
bait  to  the  hook,  and  you  can  sometimes 
take  several  cats  before  you  lose  the  bait. 
If  fresh  cut  bait  can’t  be  obtained,  cut 
bluegills  or  other  panfish  can  be  used  as 
a substitute  with  good  results.  Other  baits 
such  as  nightcrawlers,  crayfish  or  chicken 
livers  also  have  their  day,  but  for  day  in, 
day  out  success,  live  minnows  and  fresh 
cut  bait  draw  more  strikes  and  produces 
more  cats. 

Rigging 

The  same  medium-weight  bass  gear  you 
use  for  smallmouths  works  fine  on  cats.  I 
prefer  a 62-foot  graphite  spinning  rod 
matched  with  a reel  of  quality  8-pound- 
test  monofilament.  During  low  water  and 
very  clear  conditions,  we  often  drop  down 
to  6-pound-test  line.  Contrary  to  popular 
opinion,  river  catfish  are  discriminating 
light  strikers  during  late-summer  low-water 
periods.  The  use  of  6-pound  mono  may 
result  in  some  break-offs  from  big  fish, 
but  it  usually  means  the  difference  be- 
tween a cooler  full  of  tasty  cats  or  just  a 
few  fish.  Even  when  the  water  is  high  and 
muddy,  10-pound  line  is  as  strong  as 
we  go. 


On  the  business  end,  we  use  size  4 bait- 
holder  hooks  tied  directly  to  the  line.  Do 
not  use  snelled  hooks.  You  simply  won’t 
get  the  strikes.  It’s  a good  idea  to  take  a 
small  hook  hone  and  touch  up  the  points 
to  razor  sharpness.  Catfish  have  tough 
mouths,  and  good  hook  penetration  is  vi- 
tal, especially  when  using  light  lines 
like  these. 

Other  terminal  gear  includes  a variety 
of  splitshot  and  several  one-inch  to  2-inch 
diameter  plastic  bobbers  of  orange  and 
yellow.  Use  the  bobbers  to  suspend  chunks 
of  cut  baitfish  about  a foot  to  18  inches 
off  the  bottom.  Free-fish  live  minnows  with 
splitshot  attached  up  about  1 8 inches  above 
the  lip-hooked  baitfish. 

Many  anglers  won’t  believe  it,  but  the 
bobber/cut  bait  trick  is  as  deadly  as  any 
tactic  I’ve  seen  on  river  catties.  You  can 
cover  lots  of  good-looking  water  with  it, 
avoid  hang-ups  and  keep  your  bait  in  the 
strike  zone  for  these  fish.  There’s  usually 
little  doubt  when  Mr.  Whiskers  has  your 
bait.  The  bobber  disappears,  line  screams 
off  and  you  simply  set  the  hook  and 
hold  on. 

During  the  summer  months,  river  cat- 
fish can  be  just  about  anywhere,  because 
they  are  at  their  physical  peak  and  feeding 
actively.  Prime  areas  include  stretches  of 
moderate  current  with  large  boils  in  4 to 
6 feet  of  water,  pools  below  ledges  that 
receive  a “chute”  or  “wash”  of  strong 
current  or  slower  moving  eddies  or  back- 
swirls.  Most  fish,  however,  will  be  in  the 
near  current. 

You’ll  find  that  hooking  cats  is  rela- 
tively easy.  Playing  and  landing  them  on 
light  spinning  gear  is  another  story.  To 
overcome  their  powerful  boatside  surges 
and  heavy  downriver  runs,  you  must  learn 
to  backreel  effectively  to  absorb  the  im- 
mediate strain.  Many  of  our  cats  are  hooked 
only  by  the  large,  front  barbel  or  whisker. 
Backreeling  during  those  quick  power  bursts 
not  only  gets  them  to  net,  but  enables  us 
to  control  and  wear  down  heavy  fish  in 
strong  currents.  Set  your  drag  to  slip  stub- 
bornly, but  learn  to  backreel  for  total  fish- 
fighting control.  (TTl 


14  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Gronaw  illustration — Linda  Steiner 


Handling  and  keeping  catfish  is  not  like  keeping  bass  or 
Here’s  what  you  need  to  make  the  job  easier. 

• Stringers.  Metal  clip  or  even  heavy  nylon  clip  stringe 
be  twisted  open  by  the  strong  jaws  of  a catfish.  If  you  s 
your  fish,  use  a heavy  nylon  cord  stringer  and  tie  the 
bottom  or  “anchor  cattie”  with  a secure  knot. 

Don’t  trust  the  metal  keeper  ring  be-  ^ 

cause  they  can  open  under  the  strain 

of  60  pounds  of  catfish.  Of  course, 

the  ideal  storage  is  a large  cooler 

of  ice,  which  keeps  them  in  great 

shape  for  the  table.  /J 

• Release  most  of  your  catch.  Keep 
no  more  than  you  will  eat. 

• Pliers.  Long-nosed  varieties  that  are  a 
used  for  pike  and  other  toothy  gamefish  & 
make  the  unhooking  chores  easier.  Also,  K 
hook  disgorgers,  sold  just  about  every-  f 
where,  are  useful  tools. 

• Other  accessories.  It  pays  to  have  ( 

a few  towels  handy  for  cleaning 

up  your  hands  after  a cattie  1*  " 

scrap.  Also,  a small,  12-inch  * 

x 12-inch  cutting  board 

with  an  edge  border  en-  "mBmMk  9 

ables  you  to  prepare  M 

cut  baits  w ithout  get-  WB^^K 

ting  bloody  fish  all  M 

over  the  boat.  Finally,  -JIIoPot ..  v 

don’t  forget  a large  ' 

landing  net  for 

scooping  up  those  |\  JPnfl 

catfish.  fm 


by  Dari  Black 

My  first  encounter  with  jig 
fishing  took  place  one 
spring  at  Pymatuning  Res- 
ervoir almost  30  years 
ago.  I had  accompanied 
my  father  on  an  evening 
fishing  trip.  At  the  bait 
shop,  my  dad  had  been 
told  that  walleye  were 
being  caught  off  the  Espy- 
ville  Causeway. 

We  climbed  down  the 
causeway  embankment 
clutching  rods,  a tackle 
box.  and  a bait  canteen  of 
worms.  Each  of  us  baited 
a line  with  a nightcrawler 
and  cast  it  out.  Then  I se- 
lected a plug  from  my 
dad's  tackle  box  and  be- 
gan casting  and  retrieving 
it  with  another  spin-cast 
outfit. 

A few  minutes  later,  an 
elderly  man  moved  into 
position  a few  feet  away. 
He  carried  a single  rod 
and  a small  case  of  lures. 
Time  passed  without  my 
dad  or  me  getting  a single 
hit.  In  the  meantime,  the 
stranger  landed  a nice 
walleye.  Then  another.  A 
few  more  minutes  later  he 
had  a third  fish  on  the 
stringer. 

I was  an  inquisitive 
nine-year-old,  so  I wanted 
desperately  to  find  out 
what  the  stranger  was  us- 
ing. I could  not  see  the 
bait  clearly.  He  was  cast- 
ing it  out,  letting  it  sink, 
and  then  hopping  it  back 
to  shore. 

"What  is  he  doing?"  I 
asked  my  dad. 

"Jigging  with  a buck- 
tail,"  my  father  said. 

"Do  we  have  any?"  I 
asked. 

"No,”  said  my  father. 

My  next  week’s  allow- 
ance  went  toward  a pack- 
age of  yellow  Doll  Fly 
jigs.  On  the  next  trip  to 
Pymatuning  I proceeded  to 
lose  10  jigs  on  12 
casts.  It  took  an  entire  sum- 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


17 


mer  before  I caught  my  first  fish  on  a jig. 

That  beginning  was  rough,  but  today  I 
would  never  think  of  going  fishing  without 
a supply  of  jigs.  They  are  a supremely 
versatile  lure — a shallow  and  deep,  multi- 
species, year-round  bait. 

Basic  qualities 

What  is  a jig?  It’s  about  as  simple  a 
lure  as  you  will  ever  find — a little  bit  of 
lead  molded  onto  a hook  with  a body  for 
visual  attraction.  A jig  may  weigh  as  little 
a of  an  ounce  or  more  than  one  ounce; 
the  body  may  be  any  combination  of  hair, 
feather,  soft  plastic,  rubber  strands  or  pork. 

Jigs  are  deadly  because  they  behave  like 
prey  in  the  water.  There  is  no  throbbing, 
flashing,  clacking,  or  yakking.  Instead,  a 
jig  offers  the  basic  qualities  that  appeal  to 
every  predator  species. 

Dragged  or  hopped  on  the  bottom,  a jig 
can  imitate  a crayfish,  insect  larvae,  or 
bottom-feeding  baitfish.  Smoothly  swim- 
ming a jig  with  a do-nothing  retrieve  sim- 
ulates forage  fish  such  as  minnows,  shad, 
or  small  panfish.  During  an  erratic  stop- 
and-go  retrieve  or  a simple  free-fall  drop, 
a jig  probably  looks  like  an  injured  baitfish 
or  struggling  terrestrial  life  form  to  a fish. 

The  jig  is  the  only  lure  that  is  as  effec- 
tive in  deep  water  as  it  is  in  shallow  water. 
How  deep  is  deep  and  how  shallow  is 
shallow?  The  answer  is  as  deep  or  as  shal- 
low as  you  wish. 

Lake  Erie  provided  the  setting  for  the 
deepest  I have  ever  taken  a fish  on  a jig. 
Our  boat  bobbed  in  waves  over  70  feet  of 
water,  while  Jerry  Hanna  and  I fished  for 
walleye  almost  straight  down  with  g-ounce 
leadheads  dressed  with  curiytail  grubs. 

We  didn’t  know  the  exact  depth  of  our 
jigs  at  the  time  of  the  strikes.  The  surface 
waves  plus  the  current  of  the  lake  con- 
tributed to  a lack  of  control  on  the  jig. 
The  depthfinder  showed  baitfish  and 
gamefish  at  depths  ranging  from  40  feet 
to  the  bottom.  By  counting  the  jig  down 
to  the  bottom  after  missing  a fish,  we  judged 
the  walleye  school  to  be  at  about  60  feet. 

We  missed  more  strikes  at  these  depths 
than  we  solidly  hooked  fish,  but  it  dem- 
onstrated that  jigs  can  be  functional  baits 
in  very  deep  water.  And  we  needed  no 
special  apparatus  to  take  the  lure  down  to 
the  fish. 

On  the  flip  side,  jigs  can  be  an  excellent 
lure  for  fooling  fish  in  certain  shallow- 
water  situations. 

In  the  early  spring  at  Pymatuning,  a 
properly  presented  jig  is  the  ticket  to  wall- 
eye catches  like  the  ones  I observed  as  a 
youngster.  Walleye  congregate  for  spawn- 


18  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Dari  Black 


ing  on  humps  and  bars  of  gravel  and  rub- 
ble shortly  after  ice  out.  Many  of  these 
fish  remain  at  these  sites  until  the  water 
temperature  reaches  the  mid-50s.  The  water 
depth  at  these  spawning  sites  is  only  3 or 
4 feet. 

Anchoring  and  casting  is  the  approach 
to  take.  Most  anglers  work  lures  too  quickly 
to  attract  sluggish  spring  walleye.  But  us- 
ing lightweight  iV  or  g-ounce  hair  or  soft- 
plastic  jigs  tipped  with  a minnow  forces 
the  fisherman  to  swim  the  lure  slowly  just 
off  the  bottom,  usually  with  out- 
standing results. 

About  a month  later,  when  bluegills  be- 
gin to  move  into  the  shallows  in  lakes 
around  the  state,  the  jig  shines  once  more. 
These  members  of  the  sunfish  family  re- 
lish tiny  <?4-  and  M-ounce  split-tail  or  tube- 
body  jigs. 

However,  these  featherweight  jigs  are 
very  difficult  to  cast,  even  with  an  ultra- 
light rod  and  reel,  so  a float  or  bobber  is 
affixed  to  the  line  above  the  jig.  The  po- 
sition of  the  bobber  depends  on  the  depth 
of  the  water  you  fish.  Sometimes  the  water 
may  only  be  one  or  two  feet  deep.  The 
rig  is  cast  and  slowly  retrieved  with  fre- 
quent pauses.  As  long  as  a small  bobber 
is  used,  the  ’gills  have  no  trouble  pulling 
the  float  under  water  when  they  hit. 

Variable  depths 

Very  shallow  and  very  deep  aren’t  the 
only  instances  for  jigs.  This  lure  can  cover 
everything  in  between. 

In  early  November  on  Kinzua  Reser- 
voir, my  partner  and  I had  started  out  fish- 
ing jigheads  weighing  l-ounce  to  cover  the 
15-  to  25-foot  depths.  We  were  feeling 
pretty  good  after  catching  several  walleye 
on  a bluff-like  structure  at  25  feet.  Then 
the  fish  activity  slowed.  We  switched  to 
l-ounce  leadheads  to  probe  a little  deeper. 
We  caught  a few  more  fish.  When  the 
activity  slowed,  we  again  moved  deeper 
on  the  structure  but  had  to  jump  to  1-ounce 
leadheads  to  maintain  control  and  stay  in 
contact  with  the  bottom  at  40  to  50  feet. 
We  finished  off  our  limits  at  50  feet  on 
the  same  type  of  soft-plastic  shad  body  we 
started  with.  Only  the  weight  of  the  lead- 
head  changed. 

In  this  situation,  the  walleye  had  been 
actively  feeding — we  could  see  that  by  the 
partially  digested  shiners  protrading  from 
their  gullets.  The  rate  of  speed  at  which 
the  jigs  dropped  was  not  a major  factor. 
Actually,  the  faster  drop  of  a heavy  lead- 
head  probably  stimulated  the  fish’s  com- 
petitive instinct.  But  there  are  times  when 
a fast-falling  jig  will  not  catch  fish. 


You  are  more  likely  to  encounter 
gamefish  in  a non-aggressive  mood  than 
a chasing  mood.  These  fish  frequently 
hold  on  deep  structure  or  suspend  in  open 
water.  Here  you  should  use  lightweight  jig- 
heads  to  slow  the  drop  of  the  lure.  With 
4-  or  6-pound  line,  a sensitive  rod,  a good 
touch  and  patience,  it  is  possible  to  fish 

Once  you  have 
mastered  a jig,  you  will 
probably  never  have  a 
completely  fishless 
day  again. 

a |-ounce,  or  even  a rg-ounce  jig,  at  depths 
of  20,  25,  or  30  feet.  A twister  grab  or 
fly-n-rind  (another  name  for  a small,  hair 
jig  with  a pork  trailer)  may  be  drifted  ever 
so  slowly  in  hopes  of  triggering  a positive 
response  from  one  or  more  fish. 

Bass,  crappies 

When  searching  for  crappies  or  small- 
mouth  bass,  swimming  lightweight  jigs  in 
deep  water  is  a vital  technique  to  master. 
Neutral-attitude  crappies  and  smallmouth 
bass  are  notorious  for  holding  near  struc- 
ture in  deep  water,  waiting  for  the  con- 
ditions that  send  them  on  feeding  sprees. 
However,  the  angler  does  not  always  have 
the  luxury  of  waiting  for  them  to  become 
active.  By  locating  suspended  schools  with 
a sonar  unit,  you  can  present  a small  jig 
that  can  be  taken  by  the  more  aggressive 
fish  in  the  group. 

The  reverse  is  also  true.  If  lightweight 
jigs  have  a place  in  deep  water,  heavy- 
weight jigs  have  their  place  in  shallow 
water.  How  about  a l-ounce  jig  in  three 
feet  of  water,  or  in  two  feet  of  water,  or 
in  inches  of  water?  The  technique  can  be 
practical  and  successful  when  flipping  and 
pitching  for  bass  in  heavy  cover. 

Bass  buried  in  shallow  cover  may  be 
as  passive  as  the  deepwater  fish,  so  it  is 
important  to  put  the  bait  right  in  front  of 
their  noses.  This  type  of  jig  fishing  for 
largemouth  bass  uses  a |-  to  l-ounce  rub- 
ber-legged jig  with  a weedguard  and  a 
plastic  or  pork  bait  trailer.  Light  jigs  in 
deep  water  call  for  thread-thin  lines,  but 
heavy  jigs  in  shallow  water  call  for  sturdy 
lines  because  the  angler  dips  the  offering 
into  tough-stem  weeds,  stumps,  and  other 
obstacles.  Lines  of  20-  or  25-pound  test 
are  common.  Anything  under  17-pound  is 
too  light. 


A heavy  jighead  helps  the  pendulum- 
flip  presentation,  as  well  as  breaking 
through  matted  cover.  The  bass  don't  seem 
to  mind  a l-ounce  leadhead  almost  hitting 
them  on  the  nose.  They  suck  it  in  with  a 
flare  of  the  gills.  The  line  jumps  and  you 
set  the  hook. 

Weedguards 

The  use  of  weedguards  on  jigs  is  often 
a subject  of  debate  among  anglers.  Novice 
anglers  believe  that  if  you  have  a weed- 
guard  on  a jig,  it  prevents  it  from  becom- 
ing snagged  and  reduces  the  loss  of  baits. 
A weedguard  may  keep  the  hook  point 
from  becoming  stuck  in  vegetation  and 
wood,  but  it  is  not  a guarantee  to  prevent 
loss  of  the  lure.  Jigs  become  wedged  in 
rocks  and  submerged  wood,  the  line  be- 
comes frayed  and  breaks  when  pressure  is 
applied,  or  broken  lengths  of  old  mono- 
filament line  on  bottom  obstacles  entangle 
the  jig.  These  are  things  that  eat  jigs,  and 
weedguards  do  not  help  in  these  instances. 

Most  experienced  anglers  think  that 
weedguards  interfere  with  successful  hook 
sets,  particularly  with  walleye,  small- 
mouths  and  crappies.  Jigs  with  weed- 
guards  should  be  reserved  for  those  oc- 
casions when  making  presentations  into 
extremely  thick  cover,  such  as  when  flip- 
ping or  working  brash. 

To  be  successful,  every  angler  must  de- 
velop a close  working  association  with  a 
jig.  This  involves  mental  and  physical 
conditioning.  You  must  be  able  to  see  in 
your  mind  how  the  jig  behaves  in  the  aquatic 
environment.  You  must  count  the  jig  down 
to  anticipate  when  it  is  going  to  touch 
bottom.  You  must  identify  the  location  of 
submerged  snags  that  have  hung  jigs  on 
previous  casts  and  guide  the  bait  around 
or  over  the  obstacle.  You  must  acquire 
“the  touch”  to  tell  the  difference  between 
a jig  hung  on  a strand  of  weed  and  a fish 
lightly  sucking  on  the  bait. 

These  skills  are  not  something  that  an 
individual  develops  immediately,  or  even 
within  a month  of  jig  fishing.  Only  w ith 
years  of  experience  w ill  you  grow  into  it. 

Matching  the  correct  jig  to  the  depth, 
species  and  cover  situation  can  net  positive 
results,  but  not  just  for  bass,  walleye,  and 
panfish.  Any  fish  that  swims  can  be  taken 
on  a jig. 

Once  you  have  mastered  a jig,  you  will 
probably  never  have  a completely  fishless 
day  again.  You  can  always  catch  some- 
thing on  a jig.  If  you  were  allowed  only 
one  lure  for  both  shallow  and  deep  fishing, 
make  mine  a jig. 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


by  Jeff  Mulhollem 

The  big  brown  was  nestled  in  a pocket  of 
the  watercress  bed,  hovering  just  beneath 
the  water’s  smooth  surface  and  boldly  sip- 
ping tricos  at  the  rate  of  about  10  a minute. 
I had  made  perhaps  100  casts  over  the 
trout  without  putting  him  down,  but  the 
fish  had  not  shown  the  least  bit  of  interest 
in  my  size  24  imitation. 

I don’t  normally  spend  more  than  an 
hour  concentrating  on  one  fish,  but  this 
one  was  a beauty  and  the  more  it  ignored 
my  tiny  spinner  pattern,  which  had  proved 
so  effective  on  previous  trips  to  the  stream, 
the  more  obsessed  I became  with  hooking 
it.  Landing  a 20-inch  trout  on  a 7X  tippet, 
I knew  from  experience,  was  nearly  im- 
possible. But  1 persevered  nonetheless. 

Finally,  the  trout  deliberately  sucked  in 
my  fly  as  it  had  so  many  naturals  before 
and  I triumphantly  raised  the  rod  tip.  It 
responded  by  slapping  its  mighty  tail  on 


the  surface  and  burrowing  into  the  weeds. 
The  leader  parted  silently,  leaving  me  to 
wonder  why  I had  even  bothered. 

“No  wonder  they  call  the  Tricorythodes 
hatch  the  fly  fisherman's  curse,’’  I told 
myself,  disgustedly  wading  to  the  bank. 
“Why  do  I frustrate  myself  this  way?  Stay 
up  late,  painstakingly  tying  ridiculously 
minuscule  flies.  Get  up  at  4 a.m.  to  drive 
an  hour  so  I can  arrive  at  dawn.  Forced 
to  use  tippets  that  make  landing  even  a 
10-inch  trout  a tense  adventure.  This  kind 
of  fishing  could  be  the  basis  for  a nervous 
breakdown.  Why  am  I so  addicted  to  it?” 

The  answer  was  waiting  around  the  next 
bend  in  the  stream.  At  least  a dozen  de- 
cent-sized trout  were  rising  and  there  was 
not  another  angler  in  sight.  In  fact,  I had 
the  stream  all  to  myself  that  entire 
July  morning. 

Why  do  I take  on  the  tricos?  Simply 
because  on  blue-ribbon  central  Pennsyl- 
vania trout  waters  like  Centre  County’s 


20  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angle i 


Spring  Creek  and  Penns  Creek,  Clinton 
County’s  Big  Fishing  Creek  and  Hunting- 
don County’s  Little  Juniata  River,  to  name 
just  a few,  the  regular,  heavy  hatches  of 
these  tiny  white-winged,  black-bodied 
mayflies  trigger  some  of  the  most  exciting 
and  reliable  angling  of  the  year. 

But  fishing  the  trico  hatches  can  be  frus- 
trating. Maddening  might  be  a better  word. 
It  was  only  after  I made  a commitment  to 
studying  and  understanding  the  tricos  and 
trout  that  feed  on  them  that  I began  to 
have  fun  and  catch  fish  regularly.  I pre- 
viously lost  interest  in  trout  fishing  from 
around  July  Fourth  until  mid-September. 
Now,  thanks  to  the  tricos,  it’s  my  favorite 
period.  I believe  tackling  the  tricos  is  trout 
fishing’s  ultimate  challenge. 

The  hatch 

In  Pennsylvania  streams  where  they  are 
found,  tricos  begin  hatching  around  the 
last  week  of  June  and  emerge  virtually 


every  day  through  mid-September.  The 
warmer  the  morning,  the  earlier  they  hatch, 
but  in  general,  the  duns  appear  between 
5:30  and  10  a. m.  The  heaviest  concentra- 
tions of  tricos  can  be  seen  over  riffles. 
Although  trout  often  feed  on  both  the  duns 
and  spinners,  feeding  on  the  spinner  fall 
is  often  frenzied,  with  unbelievably  large 
fish  lining  up  to  sip  naturals  for 
several  hours. 

Imitations 

Trico  imitations  tied  on  hook  sizes  larger 
than  20  are  almost  never  effective.  Sizes 
22  and  24  work  best  for  me.  Although 
size  26  hooks  may  match  the  naturals  more 
precisely,  I can’t  seem  to  hook  enough 
fish  to  justify  using  them.  After  much  ex- 
perimentation, I don’t  bother  with  dun  pat- 
terns, preferring  instead  to  fish  spinner  im- 
itations throughout  the  hatch.  Even  early 
in  the  morning,  with  only  duns  in  sight, 
I catch  more  fish  on  a spinner. 


Tricorythodes  spinners  have  dark  bod- 
ies and  large  (relative  to  their  overall  size) 
wings.  I keep  my  ties  simple,  dubbing 
black  fur  for  a body  and  using  poly  yam 
to  create  spent  wings.  1 am  careful  to  build 
a lump  about  twice  the  body  thickness 
where  I tie  in  the  wings  to  imitate  the 
natural's  well-defined  thorax. 

I believe  the  most  important  character- 
istic of  a good  trico  pattern  is  the  tails. 
The  naturals  have  three  tails  that  extend 
about  2|  times  the  length  of  their  bodies. 
1 had  used  black  hackle  fibers  to  represent 
the  tails,  but  now  prefer  Orvis  dark  dun 
“Microfibetts.”  Most  importantly,  keep 
them  well-divided. 

Do  not  make  the  mistake  I did  origi- 
nally, believing  that  because  trico  imita- 
tions are  so  tiny  they  don’t  have  to  be 
selective,  even  during  the  heaviest 
spinner  fall. 

Strategy 

Pick  smooth  pools  and  glides  above  rif- 
fles for  your  trico  tests  where  you  can 
make  short  casts.  Unlike  other  hatches,  I 
don’t  fish  a nymph  before  the  tricos  come 
off.  I don’t  like  to  disturb  the  water  until 
the  trout  begin  feeding  steadily  on  the  sur- 
face. Avoid  the  temptation  to  cast  to  every 
fish  you  see  feeding.  Instead,  pick  out  a 
steady  feeder  and  concentrate  on  him.  Don’t 
get  discouraged,  it  may  take  many  casts 
to  fool  him. 

Presentation  is  critical.  Long  leaders  (I 
often  use  12-  to  14-footers)  with  abnor- 
mally long  tippets  battle  drag  best.  I don't 
use  8X  and  try  to  stick  with  6X.  But  7X 
tippets  seem  to  merit  more  strikes.  1 lose 
most  of  the  truly  big  trout  I hook. 

Because  tricos  are  dark-colored  and  so 
small,  you  seldom  can  see  your  fly  or  the 
naturals  on  the  water,  so  it’s  a guessing 
game  when  to  strike.  But  when  trout  begin 
tearing  into  the  spinners,  even  sloppy  casts 
and  dragging  a fly  across  their  window 
often  don’t  spook  them. 

You  may  be  thinking  that  all  this  sounds 
very  demanding  and  troublesome.  You're 
right,  of  course.  But  the  tricos  hatch  dur- 
ing a time  of  year  when  little  else  does  in 
Pennsylvania,  providing  a great  reason  to 
be  astream  during  the  dog  days.  On  a good 
morning,  it’s  true,  I may  only  net  three 
or  four  fish.  But  I will  have  had  constant 
action.  The  biggest  fish  I have  seen  and 
caught  over  the  years  have  been  tricked 
by  a trico. 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


21 


Lighten  Up 

Summer  Trout 

Many  anglers  believe  that  summer  is  the  worst  time 
to  try  to  catch  trout  with  live  bait.  It  is  true  that  water 
levels  that  are  low  and  clear  make  trout  more  cau- 
tious. Also,  the  billions  of  insects  available  during  the 
summer  provide  a smorgasbord  of  foods  for  trout. 
Yet  trout  can  be  caught  without  resorting  to 
fly  fishing. 

Here  are  some  tips  for  you  to  use  in  fishing  for 
summertime  trout. 

IUse  light  line.  Try  fishing  with  very  light  monof- 
ilament line,  two-pound  test  or  less  if  you  can 
find  it.  If  it  is  hard  to  find,  buy  leader  material 
and  tie  it  to  the  end  of  your  regular  line. 

2  Use  small  hooks.  You  can  probably  cast  far- 
ther with  light  lines,  but  be  prepared  to  lose 
some  hooks.  Have  a good  supply  of  size  12, 

14  or  even  16.  The  fly  fishermen  are  fishing  tiny 
midges  this  time  of  year,  so  you  should  cut  down  on 
the  size  of  the  meal  you  want  to  show  the  fish. 


3  Use  no  weight.  The  whole  idea  of  summer 
fishing  for  trout  is  to  make  your  line  and  hook 
hard  to  see.  The  only  thing  you  want  the  trout 
to  see  is  the  bait.  Do  not  use  any  weight,  if  possible. 
If  you  need  any  weight  at  all,  use  a small  splitshot, 
but  put  it  18  or  more  inches  above  the  bait. 


4  Use  natural  live  baits.  Worms  and  minnows 
are  good  baits,  but  take  advantage  of  the  land 
insects  that  live  around  a trout  stream.  They 
occasionally  fall  into  the  water  and  become  trout 
food.  Crickets,  grasshoppers,  ants  and  beetles 
hooked  lightly  and  fished  carefully  can  catch  trout  in 
the  summer  months.  You  might  want  to  use  a small, 
clear-plastic  bobber  for  casting  weight. 


5  Try  to  be  “invisible.”  To  sneak  into  an  area 
where  a spooky  trout  might  be  lurking,  you 
should  keep  as  low  as  possible.  You  might 
even  have  to  crawl  on  your  hands  and  knees.  Wear 
drab-colored  clothing  or  even  a camouflage  shirt. 
Brightly  colored  fishing  hats  are  definitely  not  in 
style  here. 

6  Take  advantage  of  time  and  weather.  Try  us- 
ing the  early  morning  and  evening  hours  to 
your  fishing  advantage.  Bright  sunlight  lessens 
your  chances  for  fishing  success.  Fish  at  times 
when  the  sun  isn’t  directly  overhead.  For  the  same 
reason,  cloudy,  dull  days  are  good  times  to  try  for 
summer  trout. 


illustration — Ted  Walke 


ine  morning  sun  just  began 
greenery  of  the  wooded  hollow 
Silky  dogwoods  lined  the  righ| 
arched  from  the  bank— point! 
My  first  cast  entered  the 


water  next  to  that  trou 
cover.  The  reel  handle  hadn’t  turned  one  revoli| 
familiar  tap  told  me  a trout  had  struck. 
and  I gently  released  the  small  rainbow  at  my  fe 


The  next  cast  hit  its  mark  about  four 
feet  farther  up  the  long,  narrow  pool.  The 
faint  glimmer  of  my  spinner  was  soon  in- 
terrupted by  a larger  golden  fish.  When 
the  brown  felt  the  bite  of  the  hook,  he 
made  a quick  dash  upstream  and  then  bull- 
dozed under  the  shelter  of  the  dogwood. 
I bowed  the  rod  and  the  graphite  forced 
the  scrappy  trout  back  out  into  the  open 
water.  Moments  later  he  was  in  hand — a 
beautiful  stream-bred  brown. 

1 listed  that  brown  in  my  angling  journal 
and  glanced  at  my  watch.  It  was  eight 
o’clock.  I had  yet  to  fish  an  hour  and  had 
already  released  nine  trout — not  bad  for 
an  August  morning,  or  any  morning,  for 
that  matter.  The  trout  cooperated  at  the 
same  lively  pace  until  I called  it  quits 
for  lunch. 

During  the  mile  walk  back  to  the  pickup, 
I totaled  the  figures  in  my  journal.  My 
smile  widened  as  I tallied  36  spinner-caught 
trout  (3  brook,  one  rainbow,  and  32  browns) 
in  just  3f  hours.  “These  summer  trout 
sure  are  tough!’’  I muttered  sarcastically 
to  myself. 

By  now  you’re  about  ready  to  close  the 
Angler , figuring  that  I must  be  the  biggest 
liar  in  Pennsylvania.  Go  ahead,  but  you'll 
be  missing  the  Iowdown  on  some  of  the 
best  trout  fishing  that  our  state  has  to  offer. 
That  morning  outing  to  a small  Centre 
County  freestoner  was  a good  one,  but 
certainly  not  exceptional.  In  fact,  during 
the  past  four  summers,  I’ve  averaged  over 
six  trout  per  angling  hour  (tph).  The  best 
two  months  were  June  of  1986,  with  9.9 
tph,  and  last  August,  with  9.1  tph.  Even 
my  worst  month,  July  of  1985,  produced 
2.9  tph. 

If  summer  trout  have  frustrated  you  in 
the  past,  put  these  ideas  to  work  and  you 
could  consistently  catch  far  more  trout  than 
you  thought  possible. 

Summer,  probably  the  toughest  season 
for  trouting,  has  its  disadvantages,  but  also 
its  advantages.  To  be  successful  you  must 
know  your  quarry  and  its  summer  habitat. 
This  lets  you  use  the  advantages  and  learn 
how  to  compensate  for  the  disadvantages. 

During  the  summer  months,  water  tem- 
peratures reach  their  highest  point  on  all 
Keystone  State  trout  streams.  On  some 
small  limestoners  this  may  be  an  insig- 
nificant rise  of  just  a few  degrees.  On  less 
fortunate  waters,  the  temperature  may  shoot 
into  the  high  70s.  The  resulting  lower 
amount  of  dissolved  oxygen  may  be  lethal 
to  trout.  Streams  characteristically  are  much 
lower  and  have  clearer  water  than  during 
spring  months.  Look  at  the  three  variables 
of  stream  level,  color  and  temperature  to 


see  how  they  affect  trout. 

Stream  levels 

The  first  thing  to  remember  is  that  water 
levels  are  relative.  A trip  in  July  to  a stream 
you  first  visited  in  April  is  usually  dis- 
appointing. “Where’s  the  stream?”  you 
might  ask. 

The  converse  is  also  true.  During  the 
summer  of  1984,  I had  a great  outing  on 
a Bedford  County  mountain  stream  that 
was  new  to  me.  On  a return  trip  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  the  stream  water  levels  were 
much  higher.  Despite  what  many  would 
have  called  “better”  conditions,  fishing 
this  larger  How  seemed  foreign.  I covered 
less  stream  and  caught  fewer  trout. 

If  you  arrive  at  a stream  and  find  the 
flow  disappointingly  low,  just  fish  it  as  the 
smaller  stream  that  it  now  is.  You  won’t 
be  sorry.  Low  water  concentrates  the  trout 
and  allows  an  angler  to  present  an  offering 
to  more  trout  per  hour. 

Low  water  levels  don’t  inhibit  trout 
feeding,  either.  In  fact,  salmonids  actually 
need  more  food  because  summer  water 
temperatures  result  in  an  increased  rate  of 
metabolism.  You  can  certainly  use  this 
need  to  gain  the  upper  hand. 

As  a lure  fisherman,  the  only  disad- 
vantages that  I’ve  found  to  low  water  is 
that  I sometimes  “run  out”  of  stream.  A 
trout  is  chasing  my  spinner,  but  before  it 
can  strike  the  water  ends,  forcing  the  lure 
over  the  rocks  where  a frog  might  have  a 
chance  at  it,  but  not  a trout.  Over  the  years 
I’ve  seen  a few  “frog  fish”  actually  chase 
my  lure  out  onto  the  bank!  A few  flops, 
a wiggle,  and  the  embarrassed  trout  re- 
turns to  the  stream.  Lortunately,  this 
disadvantage  shouldn’t  affect  fly  or 
bait  anglers. 


Water  color 

Trout  locate  food  through  three  sen- 
ses— hearing,  smell  and  sight.  Hearing  and 
smell  are  little  affected  by  water  clarity, 
but  the  trout’s  number  one  food  finder, 
sight,  is  greatly  influenced.  During  June, 
July  and  August,  streams  are  usually  as 
clear  as  they  get.  This  transparency  allows 
a trout  to  spot  food  or  your  bait,  lure  or 
fly  from  greater  distances.  Generally 
speaking,  to  conserve  energy,  trout  move 
only  inches  for  food.  But  when  waters  are 
the  clearest  and  food  need  the  greatest, 
I’ve  seen  trout  follow  a spinner  for  over 
30  feet  before  striking.  They  also  have 
been  known  to  dash  10  to  12  feet  across 
a channel  to  grab  what  they  view  as  a 
tasty  morsel. 

Clear  water  also  lets  you  see  trout.  Trout 
are  not  easily  spotted  at  first,  but  with  a 
little  practice  and  polarized  sunglasses, 
you’ll  wonder  how  you  ever  missed  them 
before.  Look  for  trout  not  at  the  bottom 
of  the  deep  pools,  but  in  the  riffles  and  at 
the  heads  and  tails  of  pools.  Leeding  trout 
almost  always  are  in  or  near  the  current. 

Although  their  specific  lie  is  protected 
from  the  full  force  of  the  flow,  they  are 
dependent  on  the  current,  because  it  serves 
as  a conveyor  belt  bringing  food.  Every 
feeding  trout  that  you  spot  is  one  that  can 
be  cast  to  and  possibly  caught.  If  your  first 
sight  of  a trout  is  its  scurrying  for  cover, 
you  have  just  been  notified  that  the  trout 
is  now  using  the  clear  water  to  spot  you. 

These  “notices”  can  be  minimized  by 
careful  wading,  using  an  upstream  ap- 
proach and  casting  far  ahead  of  yourself 
as  possible. 

Dress  is  another  important  considera- 
tion. Each  season  I notice  more  anglers 
using  camouflage  clothing  to  their  advan- 


24  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mark  A.  Nale 


Catch-and-release  as  well  as  the  delayed-hanest 
areas  are  good  places  to  locate  summer  trout. 


tage.  Eight  years  ago  passers-by  must  have 
taken  me  for  an  archery  hunter  in  hip- 
boots!  Now  I’m  accepted. 

Temperature 

Water  temperature  (wt)  should  be  very 
important  to  all  anglers.  I carry  and  reli- 
giously use  a stream  thermometer.  That 
simple  tool,  coupled  with  the  records  in 
my  angling  journal,  tell  me  when  and  where 
to  fish.  A good  stream  thermometer  can 
be  ordered  through  many  sporting  goods 
catalogs  or  purchased  at  a local  fly  shop. 

If  the  days  and  nights  have  been  hot, 
by  mid-  to  late  afternoon  the  temperatures 
of  many  freestone  streams  may  be  warm 
enough  to  make  trout  inactive.  In  these 
conditions,  water  temperatures  are  their 
lowest  (best)  at  dawn.  Try  to  schedule 
your  fishing  for  the  early  morning. 

I hate  to  make  a hard  and  fast  rule,  but 
if  the  mercury  on  my  stream  thermometer 
registers  69  or  above,  I usually  head  for 
another  stream.  Several  years  ago  I caught 
a solitary  trout  on  Blair  County’s  Bald 
Eagle  Creek  with  a wt  of  7 1 . Just  last  July, 
my  brother  Frank  and  I drove  to  Cham- 


bersburg,  only  to  find  Falling  Spring  Branch 
at  71  as  it  flowed  out  of  the  Limestone 
Springs  area.  (You  may  have  read  that  this 
historic  limestoner  never  gets  above  55. 
These  myths  are  spread  by  people  without 
thermometers!)  Having  been  three  hours 
from  home  and  unfamiliar  with  alternate 
choices,  we  fished.  Much  to  our  surprise 
we  caught  a few  trout,  including  14-inch 
and  16|-inch  browns,  but  I'm  sure  that  we 
would  have  done  twice  as  well  had  the  wt 
been  lower. 

If  your  region  is  in  the  middle  of  an 
extended  hot,  dry  spell,  a good  angling 
log  can  also  tell  you  when  to  forget  the 
valley  freestoners  in  favor  of  the  hemlock- 
shrouded  hollows  or  the  more  stable 
limestoners.  There  is  great  value  to  hav- 
ing 15  years  of  temperature  data  at  my 
fingertips.  Why  not  start  your  “data 
bank”  tomorrow? 

Last  summer  central  Pennsylvania 
streams  baked  for  weeks.  Several  days  after 
the  heatwave  ended,  two  friends  had  the 
foresight  to  visit  a local  freestoner  that  had 
hit  water  temperatures  in  the  high  70s. 
After  weeks  of  temperature  stress,  the  trout 


really  took  advantage  of  the  cooler  tem- 
peratures. “Salmon  eggs,  spinners,  wax 
worms — the  trout  took  whatever  we  cast,” 
they  excitedly  told  me.  Many  of  the  rain- 
bows and  browns  were  over  14  inches. 
That  valuable  tidbit  of  information  should 
give  a parched  fisherman  something  to  keep 
him  going  during  the  next  drought. 

Stream  selection 

Catch-and-release  as  well  as  the  new 
delayed-harvest  areas  are  a good  place  to 
locate  summer  trout.  Other  productive  areas 
include  those  streams  that  were  removed 
from  the  stocking  list  a few  years  ago 
because  of  large  wild  trout  populations. 

Weather 

As  the  saying  goes,  “Any  day  fishing 
is  better  than  one  at  work,”  and  by  making 
a wise  choice  of  when  and  where  to  go, 
that  day  can  be  a good  one.  Some  con- 
ditions are  still  better  than  others.  Cloudy 
days  lessen  the  sun's  effect  on  water  tem- 
peratures and  also  seem  to  make  trout  more 
accessible.  Although  trout  feed  in  full  sun, 
they  often  lie  in  cover  rather  than  out  in 
mid-stream. 

Rain,  good  old  rain — its  effect  on  fish- 
ing is  well-known.  Those  low,  clear  streams 
of  summer  aren't  that  way  after  a good 
shower.  A mid-summer  downpour  brings 
out  bait  anglers  who  haven’t  fished  since 
spring.  The  cloudy  water  ensures  that  they 
can  get  their  bait  to  the  trout  without 
being  detected. 

Those  same  rains  send  me  out.  too,  but 
I prefer  a rain  that  raises  the  level  and  puts 
just  a touch  of  color  into  the  water.  Good 
angling  records  also  tell  you  which  streams 
are  just  right  after  a shower. 

Big  trout 

Colored  leaves,  cooler  temperatures  and 
big  trout  go  together  in  my  mind,  and  I 
still  think  that  autumn  gives  one  the  best 
chance  to  land  a trophy  trout.  However, 
while  researching  these  ideas  I did  a quick 
check  through  my  records  and  discovered 
that  55  percent  of  my  trout  over  16  inches 
long  were  caught  during  June.  July,  and 
August.  Some  of  this  is  due  to  my  in- 
creased fishing  time,  but  it  also  shows  that 
these  larger  trout  are  available  during 
the  summer. 

I hope  that  you  are  now  ready  to  pur- 
chase a thermometer  and  a notebook,  but 
most  importantly  get  out  there  and  use 
them.  Before  you  know  it  you'll  have  a 
good  set  of  records  to  study,  and  in  the 
process  catch  many  of  those  easily  spooked 
summer  trout.  [H3 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


25 


Where  Do  All  the 
Stocked  Fish 
Come  From? 


by  Richard  A.  Snyder 


What  do  Georgia,  Indiana,  South  Dakota 
and  Massachusetts  have  to  do  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission?  Plenty, 
especially  when  it  comes  to  key  warm- 
water,  coolwater  and  coldwater  fisheries 
management  programs  in  Pennsylvania. 
Most  anglers  are  well  aware  that  the  Fish 
Commission  stocks  millions  of  fish  each 
year,  but  many  people  are  completely  in 
the  dark  regarding  the  behind-the-scenes 
activities  responsible  for  making  those 
fish  available  to  the  Commonwealth’s 
waterways. 

Do  you  know  where  the  Commission 
gets  its  supply  of  redear  sunfish,  channel 
catfish,  lake  trout  and  a host  of  others? 
An  answer  so  often  heard  is  “from  Com- 
mission ponds  and  raceways.”  Yet,  for 
some  species,  sources  as  far  away  as  Texas 
and  South  Dakota  are  used.  One  shipment 
of  eggs  several  years  ago  traveled  from 
eastern  Russia!  The  Fish  Commission  goes 
to  great  lengths  to  locate  sources  of  fish 
for  stocking  the  waters  of  the  Common- 
wealth to  provide  continued  and  varied 
angling  opportunities  for  Pennsylvania 
anglers. 

Area  fisheries  managers  often  recom- 
mend stockings  of  various  species  or  hy- 
brids following  the  assessment  of  individ- 
ual rivers,  streams,  lakes  and  reservoirs. 
Reasons  for  stocking  include: 

• supplementing  natural  populations  where 
reproduction  is  non-existent  or  at  least  not 
at  the  level  desired. 

• providing  “seed”  for  establishing  pop- 
ulations in  new  waters  or  those  recovering 
from  major  pollutions. 

• providing  diverse  sportfish  communi- 
ties within  the  limits  of  the  water. 

• establishing  forage  for  other  species. 

In  some  cases,  the  species  or  hybrid 

desired  might  not  be  native  to  Pennsyl- 
vania but  one  that  would  do  well  in  new 
habitats,  such  as  those  made  during  the 
era  of  dam  construction.  For  these  and 
other  fishes,  including  those  fishes  indig- 
enous or  native  to  Pennsylvania,  sources 
of  brood  fish  or  the  resulting  eggs,  fry  and/ 
or  fingerling  had  to  be  found  for  fish  cul- 
ture purposes. 

Fishes  cultured  at  Commission  hatch- 
eries depend  on  a number  of  factors,  in- 
cluding behavior,  diet,  growth  and  age 
when  mature  between  various  fish  species 
considered  for  Commission  stocking  pro- 
grams. Some  species  such  as  brook,  brown 
and  rainbow  trout  have  been  domesticated 
for  many  years.  They  can  be  held  in  dense 
numbers,  they  mature  at  an  early  age  and 
they  consume  a dry  diet.  Numerous  other 
species  cannot  be  held  in  small  quarters. 


live  for  several  years  before  reaching  sex- 
ual maturity,  require  live  food  and  lots  of 
it,  and  are  subject  to  cannibalism  often 
with  only  a slight  difference  in  size  be- 
tween individuals. 

Brood  fish  of  species  like  walleye, 
muskellunge  and  even  bass  cannot  be  kept 
in  small  raceways.  Larger  bodies  of  ponds 
and  lakes  are  then  used  to  maintain  pop- 
ulations of  brood  fish.  Even  then  for  some 
species,  like  channel  catfish,  many  Penn- 
sylvania waterways,  even  hatchery  ponds, 
do  not  warm  early  enough  in  the  spring 
for  fish  culturists  to  work  with  natural 
reproduction. 

Over  the  years  the  Commission  has 
maintained  a number  of  lakes  as  sources 
of  brood  fish  for  the  artificial  propagation 
within  a hatchery  system.  When  the  need 
arises  the  particular  species  is  netted  im- 
mediately before  spawning  time  and  ar- 
tificially spawned  at  the  hatchery.  Or  an 
appropriate  number  of  pairs  might  be  tem- 
porarily transferred  to  a special  pond  until 
natural  spawning  occurs.  The  new  fry 
would  then  be  intensively  cared  for  in 
greater  densities  than  Mother  Nature  would 
ever  permit  in  the  wild. 

Brood  lakes  are  often  closed  to  the  pub- 
lic to  increase  the  density  of  the  large  fe- 
males. Largest  of  these  sanctuaries  is  the 
Pennsylvania  Game  Commission’s  water- 
fowl  sanctuary  at  Pymatuning  in  north- 
western Pennsylvania.  Immediately  adja- 
cent to  the  Fish  Commission’s  Linesville 
Fish  Culture  Station,  this  waterway  of  sev- 
eral thousand  acres  provides  an  excellent 
source  of  fish  for  the  propagation  of  wall- 
eye, largemough  bass,  crappies,  bluegills 
and  muskellunge. 

During  some  years  every  walleye  stocked 
by  the  Commission  came  from  spawn  taken 
from  brood  walleye  out  of  the  Pymatuning 
sanctuary.  Sometimes  conditions  develop 
where  the  sanctuaries  do  not  provide  all 
the  spawn  that  is  needed.  This  occurs  when 
the  weather  was  just  right  and  the  spawn- 
ing of  a particular  species  was  concen- 
trated in  relatively  few  days,  as  opposed 
to  being  spread  over  two  weeks.  Hatchery 
crews  working  at  peak  capacity,  even 
through  a holiday  weekend,  could  not  take 
all  the  spawn  needed  before  the  "run” 
ended. 

Other  “brood  waters”  are  lakes  and 
reservoirs  that  are  open  to  the  angling  pub- 
lic and  are  used  primarily  as  a last  resort 
when  spawn  is  needed. 

Muskellunge  often  must  be  netted  from 
a number  of  waters  for  egg-taking.  Large 
adults  make  a truck  trip  to  the  hatchery  to 
be  artificially  spawned  by  skilled  fish  cul- 


turists. The  fish  spend  a day  or  two  in  the 
new  surroundings  and  then  are  trucked  back 
to  the  open  water  to  be  restocked.  Even 
though  removal  of  some  spawn  from  even 
these  open  waters  will  have  little  impact 
on  the  resident  fish  population,  given  the 
natural  surplus  production  in  most  years, 
the  Commission  tends  to  minimize  this 
activity  even  to  include  the  return  of  some 
of  the  spawn  as  an  insurance  factor. 

Exchange  system 

The  Fish  Commission  often  has  to  con- 
sider sources  outside  of  Pennsylvania  for 
certain  species  that  for  one  reason  or  an- 
other aren’t  readily  available  in  home 
waters.  Other  states  are  often  in  the  same 
dilemma  for  species  common  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  to  the  Fish  Commission’s  hatch- 
ery system.  Thus,  an  exchange  system  has 
evolved,  making  possible  the  develop- 
ment and  continuation  of  exciting  fisheries 
all  across  the  country,  especially  with  the 
development  of  reservoirs  with  new  hab- 
itats not  occupied  by  native  species. 

Some  states  have  neither  production  fa- 
cilities nor  brood  fish  to  produce  walleye, 
muskellunge  and  the  tiger  muskellunge  (a 
hybrid  from  the  cross  between  a muskel- 
lunge and  a northern  pike).  Those  three 
constitute  the  Fish  Commission’s  trading 
stock  after  the  Commission’s  needs  are 
addressed. 

Pennsylvania  anglers  might  be  offended 
that  fish  are  going  outside  the  Common- 
wealth regardless  of  the  other  half  of  a 
trade  and  that  these  walleye  and  muskel- 
lunge could  be  better  used  in  home  waters. 
Concerning  stocking,  the  saying  “more  is 
not  always  better”  applies.  Furthermore, 
compared  to  what  the  Fish  Commission 
produces  and  stocks  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  Commonwealth,  traded  eggs,  fry 
or  fingerling  are  a very  small  portion.  The 
fish  the  Commission  gets  in  return  far  out- 
weigh that  very  small  portion.  Consider  a 
few  species  of  interest. 

Striped  bass,  striped  bass  hybrids 

Pennsylvania  doesn't  have  suitable  hab- 
itat for  natural  reproduction  in  the  handful 
of  reservoirs  where  the  fish  have  taken 
hold  through  stocking,  nor  does  Pennsyl- 
vania have  large  enough  reservoirs  to  sus- 
tain dense  populations  where  fish  culture 
operations  might  develop  our  own  fry  and 
fingerling  of  both  the  striped  bass  and  the 
hybrid  striped  bass  x white  bass.  How- 
ever, in  1987,  from  the  Millen  National 
Fish  Hatchery'  in  Millen.  Georgia,  the  Fish 
Commission  trucked  in  73,000  fingerling 
striped  bass  for  maintaining  the  striper 


July  1988  Pennsy  lvania  Angler 


27 


fishery  in  waters  such  as  Raystown  Lake. 
An  additional  600,000  striper  fry  came  in 
from  the  Manning  State  Hatchery  in 
Maryland. 

In  previous  years.  Commission  fish  cul- 
turists  traveled  as  far  as  Missouri  to  bring 
back  hybrid  striped  bass  for  waters  such 
as  Lake  Wallenpaupack,  Lake  Arthur,  Co- 
newago  Lake,  Blue  Marsh  Lake,  Lake 
Nockamixon  and  general  waterways  in  the 
Three  Rivers  area  near  Pittsburgh  and  the 
lower  Susquehanna  River  system. 

Channel  catfish 

This  often  underrated  sport  fish,  besides 
attaining  a large  size,  is  an  excellent  pred- 
ator on  small  panfish  and  even  gizzard 
shad.  This  species  is  relatively  well-dis- 
tributed throughout  the  state,  but  it  doesn’t 
reproduce  too  well  in  most  waters  due  to 
limitations  in  water  temperature.  Main- 
tenance stockings  are  necessary  to  sustain 
populations  of  channel  catfish.  In  1987, 
over  300,000  fingerling  catfish  were  stocked 
in  Pennsylvania.  They  originated  at  the 
Little  Grassy  State  Fish  Hatchery  near 
Carbondale,  Illinois. 

Threadfin  shad 

This  four-inch  minnow-like  fish  was  re- 
viewed as  a possible  forage  species  for 
select  lakes  and  reservoirs  in  Pennsylva- 
nia. In  addition  to  being  small,  threadfin 
shad  are  quite  prolific  with  the  batch 
produced  early  in  the  season  able  to  spawn 
before  the  summer  is  over.  It  appeared  to 
be  just  the  answer  to  providing  an  abun- 
dance of  desirable-sized  forage  for  young 
bass  and  crappies,  because  other  forage 
species  often  grow  out  of  the  preferred  size 
range  too  quickly. 

However,  as  with  any  “good”  thing, 
there  is  often  a hindrance.  Threadfin  shad 
cannot  tolerate  the  lower  water  tempera- 
tures so  typical  of  Pennsylvania’s  winters 
and  die  off.  Commission  fisheries  workers 
desired  to  work  with  the  threadfin  in  a 
typical  central  Pennsylvania  lake  to  see  if 
multiple  spawns  would  occur  and  then  as- 
sess ways  to  over-winter  sufficient  brood 
stock  perhaps  in  an  artificial  environment. 
From  the  Frankfort  National  Fish  Hatch- 
ery at  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  came  a ship- 
ment of  adult  threadfin  for  Colyer  Lake, 
Centre  County. 

Smallmouth  bass 

This  native  Pennsylvania  fish  is  still 
stocked  on  occasion,  either  to  establish  the 


species  in  a new  habitat  or  for  experi- 
mental purposes.  In  1987,  about  73,600 
fingerling  smallmouth  bass  were  stocked 
in  Pennsylvania.  These  fish  came  from 
Gavins  Point  National  Fish  Hatchery  in 
Yankton,  South  Dakota,  and  the  Palestine 
State  Fish  Hatchery  in  West  Virginia. 

Coho  salmon,  steelhead  trout 

In  an  ongoing  effort  to  improve  and  to 
diversify  the  coldwater  fisheries  in  Lake 
Erie,  the  Commission  “imports”  eggs  from 
other  states  to  stock  fingerlings  to  supple- 
ment its  egg-taking  efforts.  In  1987,  some 

93.000  Skamania  steelhead  eggs  from  the 
Indiana  Department  of  Natural  Resources, 

252.000  coho  eggs  from  the  New  York 
Department  of  Conservation  and  over  2.6 
million  coho  eggs  from  state  fish  hatch- 
eries of  the  Michigan  Department  of  Nat- 
ural Resources  were  incorporated  into  the 
Commission  program  for  Lake  Erie,  its 
tributaries  and  Presque  Isle  Bay. 

American  shad 

As  part  of  the  restoration  effort,  fry  and 
fingerling  American  shad  are  stocked  in 
the  Lehigh,  Schuylkill,  Juniata  and  Sus- 
quehanna rivers.  Some  of  these  fish  orig- 
inate from  eggs  taken  from  Delaware  River 
adults.  Others  come  from  shad  taken  in 
Virginia  rivers  and  even  from  adults  taken 
from  the  Columbia  River  on  the  West 
Coast. 


Other  species 

• Some  41,000  fingerling  redear  sunfish 
(not  pumpkinseed  sunfish)  came  from  the 
Avoca  State  Fish  Hatchery  at  Avoca, 
Indiana. 

• About  2,000  fingerling  landlocked  At- 
lantic salmon  for  Harveys  Lake,  Luzerne 
County,  arrived  from  the  Massachusetts 
Fish  & Game  Hatchery  at  Palmer, 
Massachusetts. 

® About  180,000  saugeye  (hybrid  cross 
between  a walleye  and  a sauger)  eggs  and 

100,000  fry  for  fish  research  purposes  and 
stocking  came  from  the  Gavins  Point  Na- 
tional Fish  Hatchery  in  South  Dakota. 

® Some  12,000  fingerling  alewife  came 
from  the  New  Jersey  Division  of  Fish, 
Game  & Wildlife  Hatchery  at  Clinton,  New 
Jersey. 

When  the  Commission’s  warmwater 
production  division  chief  checks  his 
4 ‘shopping  list’  ’ for  trading  with  other  states, 
occasionally  a species  will  be  sought  that 
is  really  available  at  home  but  which  hasn’t 
been  requested  for  some  time.  Such  was 
the  case  with  the  white  catfish — an  im- 
pressive catfish  common  to  drainages  in 
eastern  Pennsylvania  and  quite  popular  in 
several  lakes  and  rivers.  Fisheries  man- 
agers within  the  native  range  of  the  white 
catfish  desired  to  increase  its  abundance, 
especially  if  channel  catfish  were  not 
available.  Fisheries  crews  working  Lake 
Ontelaunee,  which  is  somewhat  closed  to 
public  angling  most  of  the  year,  trapped 
a few  dozen  brood  fish.  This  effort  en- 
abled the  Commission’s  Huntsdale  Fish 
Culture  Station  to  produce  and  stock  some 
97,865  white  catfish  fingerlings  in  1987, 
in  addition  to  a few  hundred  that  will  be 
maintained  in  hatchery  ponds  as  future 
brood  fish.  Recently,  the  program  re- 
ceived extra  brood  fish  when  some  four 
dozen  were  obtained  with  a reservoir  in 
the  Boyertown  area  was  drained  for  repairs. 

Particularly  in  warmwater  and  cool- 
water  management,  the  Commission  goes 
to  great  lengths  to  obtain  and  stock  fish  to 
provide  continued  and  varied  recreational 
angling  opportunity  for  thousands  of  an- 
glers. Such  efforts  and  the  related  evalu- 
ation promoting  wise  use  of  the  natural 
and  the  hatchery-provided  resource  will 
continue  as  more  and  more  time  is  spent 
on  Pennsylvania  lakes,  reservoirs,  streams 
and  rivers. 


Richard  A.  Snyder  is  chief  of  the  Com- 
mission Division  of  Fisheries  Management. 


28  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Buying  An 
Inflatable  Boat 

Many  would-be  boaters  don’t  realize 
that  inflatable  boats  are  actually  the  perfect 
craft  for  a variety  of  fishing.  Creating  the 
right  match  between  boat  and  owner  is 
simply  a matter  of  asking  a few  key 
questions. 

First,  how  will  the  inflatable  be  used? 
Just  about  any  craft  can  provide  hours  of 
relaxation  on  your  favorite  waterway.  Two 
to  four  people  plus  tackle  and  gear  can  be 
quite  comfortable  on  an  8-  to  11 -footer 
with  paddles  for  mobility.  This  sort  of 
inflatable  packs  up  neatly  in  its  own  bag 
and  can  be  carried  and  launched  just  about 
anywhere. 

Those  more  adventurous  in  spirit  may 
want  to  look  into  a V-shaped  bottom,  rigid- 
transom  boat.  Many  inflatable  boat  tran- 
soms can  accommodate  engines  up  to  50 
horsepower.  Since  the  inflatable  is  so 
lightweight,  it  offers  all  the  necessary  ac- 
celeration and  tracking  with  a much  smaller, 
more  fuel-efficient  motor. 

Specially  formulated  fabrics,  materials 
and  coating,  which  are  glued  or  welded 
together,  form  tough  skins  and  are  highly 
resistant  to  abrasion  and  puncture.  Mul- 
tiple air  chambers,  an  important  feature 
for  fishermen,  provide  reserve  buoyancy 
in  the  unlikely  event  that  pressure  is  lost 
in  one  chamber.  Unlike  a traditional  boat, 
an  inflatable  can  be  transported  easily  to 
avoid  boat  traffic  or  to  explore  alternate 
fishing  areas. 

Campers  can  find  that  an  inflatable,  with 
its  wide  beam  and  low  center  of  gravity, 
is  a stable,  virtually  unsinkable  vessel. 
Choosing  one  with  rigid  floorboards  can 
also  ensure  solid  footing  in  case  of  sudden 
movements.  Because  of  its  light  weight, 
the  inflatable  also  allows  the  sportsman 
access  to  the  more  remote,  out-of-the- 
way  spots  that  conventional  boats  could 
not  reach. 

Most  owners  benefit  from  an  inflata- 
ble’s portability.  Many  inflatables  store 
easily  in  a car  trunk  or  closet,  which  elim- 
inates the  need  for  costly  dock  space,  trail- 
ers and  launching  facilities. 

This  information  is  provided  by  the  In- 
flatable Boat  Association  of  the  National 
Marine  Manufacturers  Association.  Mem- 
bers of  the  Inflatable  Boat  Association  in- 
clude Achilles,  Avon,  Dynous  by  Toyo, 
Novurania,  Sea  Eagle,  Sevylor,  and 
Zodiac. 


The  Landowner 


I saw  him  along  the  stream,  nails  and  hammer  in  hand.  The  sign  he  was  hanging 
simply  read  “No  Trepassing.”  In  the  background  flowed  a river  bright  and  clear,  a 
body  of  water  that  supported  bright  fish,  deep-bodied  trout  that  when  hooked  would 
dive  deep  into  the  blackness  of  the  pools.  Curious,  I approached  the  landowner. 

“I  see  you’re  posting.  Is  there  a reason?’’ 

His  eyes  darted  from  the  chore,  showing  the  anger  swelling  from  deep  within.  ' ‘Yeah,’’ 
he  shot  back,  “There  are,  and  you  might  be  one  of  them!’’ 

I was  taken  back  by  the  man’s  anger.  I studied  his  face  as  he  turned  to  nail  another 
poster  on  the  pre-cut  posts.  I thought  the  conversation  had  ended,  but  above  the  sound 
of  the  hammer  he  began.  “Last  year  I picked  up  10  garbage  bags  of  litter.  You  name 
it,  I found  it,  from  soda  cans  to  candy  wrappers.  I don’t  mind  others  fishing  here,  but 
I’ll  be  darned  if  I’m  going  to  play  caretaker.” 

“Can  I change  your  mind?”  I asked. 

“Nope.  It’s  too  late;  I'm  tired  of  hollow  promises.  I’ve  been  talked  out  of  posting 
for  the  past  three  years.  This  year  I’m  doing  it.” 

He  swung  the  hammer  harder  now,  his  face  reddened  by  the  exercise  and  anger.  Still, 
I knew  the  conversation  was  not  over. 

“Look,  I don’t  want  to  be  the  bad  guy.  I know  that  my  posting  will  upset  a lot  of 
people,  but  I can’t  tolerate  my  fences  broken  down,  fire  rings  along  the  banks  and  litter 
blowing  through  my  front  yard.  I have  enough  work  to  do.” 

The  wind  blew  across  the  stream,  rippling  the  surface,  and  a soda  can  bobbed  on  the 
small  waves.  I hoped  he  hadn’t  seen  it. 

“See  that,”  he  pointed,  “That  can — enough  said.” 

I turned  and  looked  at  the  clear  water.  In  the  side  eddy  a trout  rose,  a trout  that  would 
not  be  fought  this  year  or  next.  A hundred;  no,  more  like  five  hundred  would  have  to 
fish  elsewhere  because  of  a few.  I walked  away  with  no  malice  in  my  heart.  The 
hammering  echoed  in  the  breeze,  but  I could  not  blame  the  landowner.  Somewhere  a 
small  handful  of  nameless  anglers  had  spoiled  it  for  the  rest  of  us.  I would  like  to  know 
who  they  are. — Dave  Wolf 


July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


Kevin  D.  Coutts 
(center),  of  Paupack, 
PA,  caught  a new  stale - 
record  brown  trout 
from  Lake 
Wallenpaupack  last 
April  27.  The  new 
record  trout  weighed 
17.07  pounds,  beating 
the  old  state  record  by 
nearly  2 pounds.  The 
girth  of  the  behemoth 
brown  measured  19% 
inches.  Coutts  was 
casting  a plug  using  6- 
pound-test  line  when  he 
caught  the  state  record. 
Admiring  the  catch  are 
Fish  Commission  Vice 
President  Leon  Reed 
(left)  and  Waterways 
Conservation  Officer 
Mike  Badner  (right). 
Congratulations,  Kevin! 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 

Contributor  Sue  Gerard 
Wins  Acclaim 

Writer  Sue  Gerard  and  Pennsylvania 
Angler  and  Boat  Pennsylvania  won  ac- 
claim in  St.  Louis  last  April  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Missouri  State  Writers  Guild. 
An  article  on  water  safety  and  rescue,  pub- 
lished in  both  magazines,  won  top  honors 

as  “Best  Magazine  Article’’  published  by 
a Guild  member  in  1987. 

Writer  Sue  Gerard  is  a retired  teacher 
having  taught  aquatic  sports  and  water 
safety  at  Columbia  College  for  33  years. 
The  article,  “A  Life  Preserver  in  Your 
Trunk,”  details  how  fishermen,  boaters 
and  others  can  rescue  a drowning  victim 
without  risk  to  themselves:  by  using  the 

spare  wheel,  aired  up,  from  their  car 
or  trunk. 

Mrs.  Gerard  has  won  national  honors 
in  water  safety  from  the  National  Safety 
Council,  the  National  Water  Safety  Con- 
gress and  the  National  4-H  Alumni  Rec- 
ognition Program. 

Her  article  “Fishing  with  Two  Poles” 
appears  in  an  upcoming  Angler  issue. 

Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals 
of  safe  boating  and  optimum  boating 
opportunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R Miller,  P.E.,  Executive 
Director 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Vacant,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shyrl  Hood,  Division  of  Warmwaterl 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K Ronald  Weis,  R.A  , Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Services 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons.  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


Anglers 

Notebook 


o 


o 


A large  sheet  of  aluminum  foil  makes  a 
good  container  for  poaching  fish  on  camping 
trips — especially  large  trout.  Simply  gut  and 
wash  the  fish,  salt  and  season  to  taste,  and 
place  slices  of  tomato  and  onion  in  the  body 
cavity  along  with  some  butter.  Wrap  loosely, 
fold  and  seal  the  ends,  and  poke  a few  holes 
in  the  package  to  allow  steam  to  escape. 
Place  it  on  hot  coals  or  on  the  outer  edge  of 
a wood  fire,  turning  occasionally,  and  let  it 
cook.  Delicious! 

Handkerchief-size  pieces  of  aluminum  foil 
also  come  in  handy  when  moving  from  one 
fishing  spot  to  another  while  rigged.  Hook 
the  rig  to  a guide  and  wrap  the  foil  around 
the  lure  or  baited  hook  and  the  rod.  It  won’t 
come  loose  and  latch  onto  your  clothing — or 
your  friend’s  hide. 

Game  shears  used  for  cutting  the  bones  of 
pheasants  and  rabbits  serve  double  duty  in 
easily  snipping  the  bony  fins  on  fish,  and  the 
shears  save  the  edge  on  your  fillet  knife. 

Pike  and  pickerel  that  make  a habit  of 
following  a plug  or  spinner  to  the  boat  can 
sometimes  be  stimulated  to  strike  when  you 
end  the  retrieve  with  a few  figure-8  patterns, 
guided  by  the  tip  of  the  rod. 


o 


If  your  fishing  glasses  keep  slipping  down 
your  nose,  wind  a few  curls  of  rubber  band 
or  monofilament  line  around  the  hinge.  It 
keeps  them  in  place. 

If  you  have  trouble  casting  accurately  with 
spinning  gear,  the  weight  of  the  terminal 
gear  and  the  rest  of  the  equipment  (rod,  reel 
and  monofilament)  may  not  be  matched. 

Most  midweight  outfits  handle  lures  or  baits 
from  to  l-ounce  or  slightly  more,  but 
they  are  too  heavy  for  anything  lighter. 

For  jg-ounce  to  g-ounce  rigs,  use  ultra- 
light tackle. 

If  you're  serious  about  taking  pictures  of 
fish  and  anglers,  remember  that  the  best  light 
is  three  or  so  hours  after  sunrise  and  the  last 
few  hours  before  sunset.  Then  the  light  is 
angled,  providing  interesting  shadows  and 
perspective,  and  it  imparts  warmer  colors. 

If  you’re  heading  to  the  stream  or  pond 
for  only  an  hour  or  two,  rather  than  drag  a 
bulky  worm  container  with  you,  scoop  out 
what  you  think  you’ll  need  and  place  the 
bait  in  a zip-lock  plastic  bag.  With  moist 
leaves  or  moss,  the  worms  stay  alive  for  the 
short  duration. 

When  canoeing,  always  place  the  less 
experienced  paddler  at  the  bow.  The  more 
accomplished  canoeist  must  be  in  the  stem 
to  steer,  watch  for  obstacles  and  make  quick 
decisions. 

A common  garden  trowel  taken  along  on 
a fishing-camping  trip  comes  in  handy  in 
digging  for  grubs,  worms,  insects  and  other 
on-site  baits. 

illustration  — Rose  Boegli 


30  July  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


PFD  Update 

You  may  not  know  about  the  simpli- 
fication of  details  on  the  proper  use  of  the 
various  classes  of  Personal  Flotation  De- 
vices (PFDs).  Soon,  every  PFD  offered 
for  sale  must  be  accompanied  by  a booklet 
that  includes  the  following  information: 

• Type  I.  Offshore  life  jackets.  Best  for 
open,  rough  or  remote  water,  where  res- 
cue may  be  slow  in  coming.  Advantages: 
It  floats  you  the  best.  Designed  to  turn 
unconscious  wearers  face-up  in  the  water. 
Highly  visible  color.  Disadvantages:  Bulky. 
Sizes:  Two  sizes  to  fit  most  children  and 
adults. 

• Type  II.  Near-shore  buoyant  vest. 

Advantages:  Designed  to  turn  unconscious 
wearers  face-up  in  water.  Less  bulky,  more 
comfortable  than  offshore  life  jacket  (Type 
I PFD).  Disadvantages:  Not  for  long  hours 
in  rough  water.  Will  not  turn  some  un- 
conscious wearers  face-up  in  water.  Sizes: 
Infant,  Child-Small,  Child-Medium  and 
Adult. 

• Type  IH.  Flotation  aid.  Good  for  calm, 
inland  water,  or  where  there  is  a good 
chance  of  fast  rescue.  Advantages:  Gen- 
erally the  most  comfortable  type  for  con- 
tinuous wear.  Freedom  of  movement  for 
water  skiing,  small-boat  sailing,  fishing. 
Available  in  many  styles,  including  vests 
and  flotation  coats.  Disadvantages:  Not 
for  rough  water.  Wearer  may  have  to  tilt 
head  back  to  avoid  face-down  position  in 
water. 

• Type  IV.  Throwable  device.  For  calm, 
inland  water  with  heavy  boat  traffic,  where 
help  is  always  nearby.  Advantages:  Can 
be  thrown  to  someone.  Good  backup  for 
wearable  PFDs.  Some  can  be  used  as  seat 
cushions.  Disadvantages:  Not  for  uncon- 
scious persons.  Not  for  nonswimmers  and 
children.  Not  for  many  hours  in  rough 
water. 

• Type  V.  Special-use  devices.  Good 
only  for  special  uses  or  conditions.  See 
label  for  limits  of  use.  Varieties  include 
boardsailing  vests,  deck  suits,  work  vests, 
hybrid  PFDs  and  others. 

• Type  V.  Hybrid  device.  Required  to 
be  worn  to  be  counted  as  a regulation  PFD. 
Advantages:  Least  bulky  of  all  types.  High 
flotation  when  inflated.  Good  for  contin- 
uous wear.  Disadvantages:  May  not  ad- 
equately float  some  wearers  unless  par- 
tially inflated.  Requires  active  use  and  care 
of  inflation  chamber.  Performance  level: 
Equal  to  either  Type  I,  II  or  III  perform- 
ance as  noted  on  the  label. 


Commission  Area  Fisheries  Manager  Larry  Jackson  shows  a 43 .7 5 -pound,  42 Vz- 
inch-long  purebred  striped  bass  that  was  captured  during  a survey  of  Ravstown 
Lake  on  April  7,  1988.  The  gigantic  striper  is  a state  record — as  soon  as 
someone  nails  it  on  hook  and  line.  Commission  biologists  caught  the  fish  in  the 
lower  7 or  8 miles  of  the  lake  in  a gill  net  within  easy  casting  distance  from 
shore.  Jackson  and  his  survey  team  released  the  fish  alive. 


Summary  of 
Boating 

Regulation! 


This  season,  be  a boater  in  the 
know.  Every  year,  when  you  register 
your  boat,  the  package  of  materials 
you  receive  from  the  Fish 
Commission  includes  the  latest 
Summary  of  Boating  Regulations. 
The  Fish  Commission  encourages  all 
boaters  to  read  and  study  the 
summary,  and  become  familiar  with 
the  rules  and  regulations  that  pertain 
to  your  kind  of  boating.  If  you  need 
an  extra  copy  of  the  summary, 
contact:  Bureau  of  Boating, 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission, 

P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA 
17105-1673. 


July  1 988  Pennsylvania  Angler  3 1 


August  19881$  1.50 


Pennsylvania 

ANGLER 

The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


Straight 

Talk 


The  Lehigh  River  is  Ready 
for  Shad 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


A study  of  shad  fishing  activities  on  the  Delaware  River  was  conducted  dunng  a nine- 
week  period  from  April  5 to  June  2,  1986.  This  survey,  which  was  funded  by  the 
Delaware  River  Shad  Fishermen’s  Association,  included  interviews  of  recreational  shad 
fishermen  at  randomly  selected  areas.  Creel  survey  agents  also  distributed  questionnaires 
to  the  anglers,  and  their  findings  were  substantiated  by  observations  from  aircraft  in  an 
effort  to  determine  the  total  number  of  shad  anglers  on  the  Delaware  River.  The  survey 
covered  the  main  stem  of  the  Delaware  over  a distance  of  some  192  miles  from  Yardley, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Hancock,  New  York. 

The  study  showed  that  during  a nine-week  period,  65,690  anglers  spent  nearly  300,000 
hours  fishing  for  shad  in  the  survey  area.  Some  44,502  of  these  fishermen  used  boats, 
while  the  remainder  fished  from  shore.  In  excess  of  56,000  shad  were  caught,  which 
gives  a catch  rate  of  about  one  shad  per  five  hours  of  angling.  Nearly  half  of  the  fish 
caught  were  returned  to  the  river,  thereby  increasing  the  fishing  opportunities  for  others. 
The  total  catch  of  56,320  shad  is  much  greater  than  the  reported  1965  catch  of  5,318  and 
the  1971  reported  shad  catch  of  25,000. 

Shad  anglers  interviewed  indicated  that  they  spent  an  average  of  $25.40  per  trip  on 
such  items  as  gasoline,  lodging,  food  and  fishing  equipment.  The  study  also  showed  that 
Delaware  River  shad  anglers  spent  over  $1.6  million  dunng  the  nine-week  shad  fishing 
period.  When  anglers  were  asked  to  place  a monetary  value  on  a day  of  shad  fishing,  the 
most  frequent  response  was  $50  per  day. 

The  study  shows  very  dramatically  how  the  shad  fishery  in  the  Delaware  River  has 
improved  in  recent  years.  It  also  demonstrates  that  a substantial  economic  impact  is  being 
made  on  the  local  economy  as  a result  of  this  improving  fishery. 

The  success  of  this  program  emphasizes  the  importance  of  expanding  the  annual  shad 
spawning  run  into  other  waters  of  the  basin,  particularly  the  Lehigh  River.  Improving 
water  conditions  in  recent  years  and  efforts  by  the  Lehigh  River  Preservation,  Protection 
and  Improvement  Foundation  have  proven  that  the  Lehigh  River  water  quality  and  habitat 
are  satisfactory  to  again  spawn,  rear  and  attract  shad.  Even  though  the  1986  study 
indicated  that  fewer  than  60,000  adult  shad  were  caught  by  Delaware  River  anglers, 
estimates  indicate  that  more  than  600,000  American  shad  now  ascend  the  Delaware  River. 
The  success  of  this  shad  restoration  effort,  due  to  the  joint  efforts  of  Pennsylvania,  New 
Jersey,  New  York  and  the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  along  with  many  interested 
sportsmen’s  organizations,  presents  an  important  opportunity  to  restore  these  migratory 
fish  to  the  Lehigh  River. 

It  is  the  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  to 
actively  seek  construction  of  fishways  over  the  dams  within  the  Delaware  River  Basin  to 
again  permit  movement  of  anadromous  fishes  to  their  historic  freshwater  destinations.  For 
this  reason,  the  Fish  Commission  has  been  pressing  the  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources,  owner  of  the  Easton  Dam  and  Chain  Dam,  which  continue  to  block  fish 
migration  into  the  Lehigh  River  from  the  Delaware  River,  to  install  fish  passage  facilities. 
The  Commission  has  also  appealed  to  Governor  Robert  P.  Casey  and  other  state  officials 
to  support  current  efforts  by  the  Pennsylvania  General  Assembly  to  obtain  the  necessary 
capital  funds  for  installation  of  fish  passage  facilities.  The  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources,  working  in  concert  with  the  Fish  Commission,  has  already  installed  fish 
passage  facilities  at  the  Hamilton  Street  Dam,  and  if  similar  efforts  can  be  completed  at 
the  other  two  dams,  a huge  new  fishery  will  be  reopened. 

We  acknowledge  that  delays  in  the  effort  are  partially  caused  by  problems  resulting 
from  private  hydroelectric  power  developers  who  desire  to  install  hydroelectric  generating 
equipment  at  these  two  sites.  We  remain  optimistic,  however,  that  DER  will  resolve  these 
problems  in  the  very  near  future,  and  will  proceed  immediately  with  the  necessary 
improvements. 

The  Pennsylvania  General  Assembly  is  presently  asking  that  capital  monies  be  provided 
in  the  Capital  Budget  (House  Bill  1743)  to  provide  monies  for  the  completion  of  the 
passage  facilities.  We  are  hopeful  that  by  the  time  you  read  this  editorial,  legislation  will 
be  in  place  and  capital  monies  will  be  forthcoming  to  complete  these  important  projects. 

The  fishermen  and  boaters  of  the  Delaware  and  Lehigh  valleys  have  worked  diligently 
for  this  cause  and  deserve  improved  recreational  fishing  and  boating  opportunities.  The 
local  economy  of  the  Lehigh  River  and  Delaware  River  valleys  will  also  benefit 
significantly  from  this  effort. 


JUL  25  1988 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Joan  R.  Plumly 
President 
Jenkintown 
Leon  Reed 
Vice  President 
Honesdale 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
David  Coe 
State  College 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 

T.  T.  (Ted)  Metzger,  Jr. 
Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Bloomsburg 
Chairman 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 


August  1988  Vol.  57  No.  8 


Pennsylvania 

ANG 


The  Keystone  State’s  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


H 


1R 


Northwest  Pennsylvania’s  Small-Stream  Muskies 

by  Joe  Byham 

Erie,  Forest,  Mercer  and  Crawford  counties  offer  some  hot  musky 
action  4 

Leaders:  Short  is  Better  by  Jim  Bashline 
You  seldom  need  a leader  longer  than  9 feet.  Know  why? 7 

Bigger  Smallmouths  with  Flies  by  Lefty  Kreh 
Let  a small  change  in  your  tactics  pay  off  with  bigger  fish  8 

20  Tips  for  Working  Topwater  Plugs  by  C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 
Take  full  advantage  of  the  most  thrilling  kind  of  action  you  can  have 
this  summer  11 

The  Commission’s  King-of-Prussia  Expo  by  Larry > Shaffer 
Some  26  different  exhibits,  displays  and  demonstrations  highlighted 
this  happening  15 

Fishing  with  Two  Poles  by  Sue  Gerard 
Sam  and  Cole  were  14  and  16  months  old  when  their  fishing 
“instruction”  began  18 

Kids  Page!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Last  year  a third  grade  class  completed  a classy  project  23 


Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Intern — Sherri  Akens 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Intern — Jennifer  Bennett 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Solo  Flights  Checklist  by  Art  Michaels 
Implement  special  plans  to  make  lone  fishing  trips  better  24 

Delayed  Harvest,  Artificial  Lures  Only 

by  C.  Blake  Weirich 

These  special-regulation  areas  offer  excellent  opportunities  26 

Grandpa’s  Net  by  Jim  Mize 

An  angler’s  grandfather  left  him  more  than  just  a net  28 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN003M34X)  is  published  monthly  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harris- 
burg, PA.  17109. s1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted 
without  the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion. Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1 .50  each 
Second  class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA  POSTMASTER: 
Send  address  changes  to  : Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For 
subscription  and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow 
six  weeks  for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The 
Editor,  Pennsylvania  Angler.  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105- 
1673.  Editorial  queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must 
be  accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material 
accepted  for  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  transit. 
The  authors’  views,  ideas,  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


The  Simple  Pleasures  of  Wet- Wading  by  Jim  Gronaw 
This  laid-back  style  of  fishing  may  suit  you  to  a tee  30 


The  covers 

A Coastal  Plain  leopard  frog  peers  through  the  duckweed  on  this  issue's 
front  cover.  Joe  McDonald  photographed  this  amphibian.  The  frog,  Rana 
Utricularia,  is  an  endangered  species  in  Pennsylvania,  but  imagine  how' 
much  more  endangered  it  would  be  if  a hungry  largemouth  bass  were 
eyeing  it  from  below.  Could  you  fool  that  bass  by  using  surface  lures  that 
imitate  the  frog?  Lots  of  ideas  along  these  lines  appear  in  the  article 
beginning  on  page  11.  If  catching  smallmouth  bass  interests  you,  check  out 
page  8,  and  trout  fishermen  may  find  the  article  on  page  26  informative. 


STATE  LIBRARY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


Northwest  Pmmylvama ’s 


by  Joe  Byham 

Big  water  usually  means  big  fish,  so  we 
tend  to  associate  the  muskellunge  with  our 
larger  rivers,  lakes,  and  reservoirs.  Still, 
this  giant  of  the  pike  family  is  often  equally 
at  home  in  many  of  our  smaller  creeks  and 
tributary  streams.  Pennsylvania  is  blessed 
with  a sprinkling  of  these  little  waters  that 
actually  produce  sizable  numbers  of  these 
streamlined  fighters.  This  is  particularly 
evident  in  the  native  muskellunge  range 
of  northwest  Pennsylvania. 

Most  of  these  little  tributaries,  some  no 
more  than  30  or  40  feet  wide,  are  located 
in  Erie,  Crawford,  Mercer  and  Forest 
counties.  Believed  to  have  migrated  from 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Allegheny  River  many 
years  ago,  the  little-stream  musky  has  ap- 
parently found  these  waters  to  his  liking. 
Old-timers  of  the  area  often  relate 
many  thrilling  encounters  with  these 
fighting  gamesters. 

Habits,  characteristics 

A unique  fish,  I have  found  the  stream 
musky  to  be  in  a class  by  itself.  While  not 
frequently  reaching  the  record  size  of  his 


Above,  the  author  cruising  recently  with 
a small  outboard  on  his  boat.  Here  he 
was  fishing  near  the  access  area  on 
Cussewago  Creek,  searching  for 
muskies. 


4 August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Small-Stream  Muskies 


Above , the  author’s  been  fishing  for  muskies  in  northwest  Pennsylvania  for  a long 
time.  This  picture  is  more  than  30  years  old. 


big-water  cousins  of  the  lakes  and  reser- 
voirs, he  more  than  makes  up  for  size  in 
stamina  and  aggressiveness.  Sleek,  pow- 
erful and  capable  of  striking  with  great 
speed  and  force,  the  stream  musky  offers 
fishermen  a thrilling  challenge. 

1 have  also  found  these  fish  to  be  easier 
to  locate  and  prone  to  feed  more  often, 
and  as  a result,  more  receptive  to  an  an- 
gler’s offering. 

I can  recall  an  experience  back  in  the 
early  1950s.  On  one  September  morning 
I was  fortunate  to  have  caught  eight  mus- 
kies, releasing  all  but  one.  This  action 
took  place  in  a period  of  about  two  hours 
while  plug  casting  a section  of  stream  no 
more  than  200  yards  long. 

The  stream  musky  has  a frequent  habit 
of  following  your  lure  right  up  to  your 
boot-tops  and  then  suddenly  disappearing 
in  a swirl  of  water  as  you  lift  the  plug 
from  the  water.  I could  never  be  sure  if 
this  trait  was  due  to  anger,  curiosity,  or 
the  fish's  desire  to  drive  away  some  crea- 
ture unfamiliar  to  his  environment.  At  least 
when  this  happens,  you  know  of  his  wher- 
eabouts and  can  return  later. 

Locating  fish 

During  the  summer  and  early  fall,  the 
stream  musky  is  usually  found  lying  near 
a partially  submerged  log,  treetop  or 
brushpile  and  seldom  ventures  far  from 
his  lair.  Concentrate  on  the  deeper  water 
areas,  usually  found  at  a bend  in  the  stream 
where  a musky  can  find  some  type  of  cover. 
Later  on  from  about  mid-October  through 
November,  he  begins  to  move  about  and 
may  be  found  most  anywhere  in  the  stream. 
He  has  devoured  most  of  the  available 
food  in  his  chosen  area,  so  he  is  now  lean, 
hungry,  and  on  the  prowl.  During  this  fall 
season  most  of  the  lunker-sized  muskies 
are  taken. 

Methods,  tackle 

Heavy  equipment  is  a necessity  for 
catching  and  holding  these  fighting 
gamesters.  Spinning  tackle  is  out  of  the 
question.  You  need  to  horse  these  fish 
often,  to  avoid  entanglements  with  un- 
derwater debris.  If  you  are  casting  from  a 
small  boat  or  canoe,  loss  of  lures  is  cut 
to  a minimum,  because  you  can  more  eas- 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


ily  guide  your  fish  away  from  these  ob- 
structions— not  easily  accomplished  when 
casting  from  the  stream  bank. 

My  own  equipment  consists  of  a heavy 
duty  musky  rod  of  5 2 feet,  a standard  bait- 
casting reel  equipped  with  30-pound-test 
black  braided  casting  line,  to  which  is  at- 
tached an  8-inch  steel  leader. 

In  the  matter  of  lures,  most  of  the  stan- 
dard musky  plugs  or  bucktail  spoons  should 
bring  results.  Stream  muskies  are  not  se- 


lective so  long  as  the  prey  is  active  and 
moving.  They  have  been  known  to  attack 
most  any  creature  that  swims,  flies  or 
crawls.  1 once  found  a small  box  turtle  in 
the  stomach  of  a 38-inch  specimen.  On 
another  occasion,  an  8- inch  bullhead  was 
found  partially  digested. 

Productive  streams 

Conneaut  Creek,  located  in  Erie  County, 
is  one  of  the  top  musky  streams  of  north- 


west Pennsylvania.  This  little  tributary 
contains  both  native  and  stocked  fish.  It 
is  best  reached  at  the  town  of  Albion  near 
the  junction  of  Rts.  18  and  6N.  Some 
big  muskies  are  taken  annually  from 
these  waters. 

Cussewago  Creek  in  Crawford  County 
is  another  productive  little  musky  stream. 
Often  called  “the  forgotten  stream,”  this 
picturesque  little  wilderness  waterway  be- 
gins near  the  village  of  Crossingville  and 
winds  a twisted  course  downstream  for 
some  20  miles  where  it  empties  into  French 
Creek  at  Meadville.  Muskies  have  been 
taken  along  its  entire  length,  but  much  of 
this  Cussewago  Valley  is  inaccessible  due 
to  a profuse  growth  of  plants  and  shrubs, 
often  reaching  higher  than  a man’s  head! 
Few  fishermen  have  penetrated  this  valley 
in  its  entirety.  However,  there  is  a Fish 
Commission  access  near  the  lower  deeper 
area  of  the  stream  in  Fredrickburg,  just 
off  Rt.  102  about  a mile  west  of  Meadville. 

Tionesta  Creek  in  Forest  County  has 
given  up  some  good  muskies  over  the  years. 
This  stream  feeds  the  big  Tionesta  Res- 
ervoir and  is  replenished  annually  by  fish 
moving  upstream  from  the  reservoir.  Here 
they  reproduce  and  apparently  find  a suit- 
able environment. 

These  waters  also  contain  a good  pop- 
ulation of  bass  and  walleye  for  the  fish- 
erman who  likes  variety.  You  can  plug 
cast  Tionesta  Creek  either  by  boat  or  by 
wading  the  shoreline.  Muskies  in  the 
40-  to  45-inch  class  are  not  unusual  from 
these  waters. 

The  Shenango  River  is  an  excellent 
musky  stream  that  deserves  mention.  The 
outlet  to  Pymatuning  Reservoir,  this  stream 
actually  harbored  native  muskies  long  be- 
fore the  reservoir  was  built.  The  biggest 
part  of  this  stream  is  located  in  Mercer 
County  and  the  best  fishing  is  found  just 
below  the  dam  at  Jamestown  downstream 
to  the  vicinity  of  Greenville. 

Oil  Creek  in  eastern  Crawford  County, 
though  generally  regarded  as  a trout  stream, 
has  produced  some  muskies  in  the  deeper 
stretches  of  water  near  its  lower  end.  The 
best  section  of  water  is  probably  the 
area  at  Mystic  Park  near  the  village 
of  Hydetown. 

Aside  from  these  musky  streams,  there 
are  a number  of  stocked  streams  through- 
out the  Commonwealth  that  are  regarded 
as  excellent  musky  waters.  This  stocking 
program  by  the  Fish  Commission  has 
now  made  it  possible  for  most  fisher- 
men to  experience  the  thrills  of  musky 
fishing  without  traveling  a great  distance 
from  home.  dc! 


6 August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Bashlina 


by  Jim  Bashline 


Not  too  many  years  ago,  the 
“learned”  folks  who  wrote  about 
fly  fishing  were  terribly  hung  up 
on  long  leaders.  It  wasn’t  uncommon  to 
find  a passage  in  many  stories  advising  the 
reader  to  use  a leader  of  10  feet  or  longer, 
and  some  extremists  wrote  glibly  about 
leaders  of  up  to  20  feet.  For  those  of  you 
who  have  actually  tried  casting  a hunk  of 
monofilament  that  long,  you  know  the 
meaning  of  frustration! 

On  95  percent  of  our  Pennsylvania  trout 
streams,  or  on  streams  throughout  the  East, 
for  that  matter,  a 20-foot  leader  is  not  only 
not  needed,  it’s  an  abomination.  Practi- 
cally any  leader  longer  than  9 feet  is  sel- 
dom needed  or  useful  because  most  of  us 
don’t  cast  far  enough  to  make  use  of  it. 
Monofilament  leader  material  weighs  next 
to  nothing  compared  to  a fly  line,  and 
remember,  the  weight  of  the  fly  line  de- 
livers the  leader  with  fly  attached. 

Casting  a leader  alone  is  a near  impos- 
sibility. The  rod  must  flex  to  get  that  fly 
to  the  desired  spot,  and  the  leader  itself 
simply  won’t  cause  the  rod  to  bend.  Some 
anglers  would  like  to  believe  they  regu- 
larly cast  beyond  50  feet,  but  in 
practice  it  just  isn’t  so.  On  most  Penn- 
sylvania streams  a 40-footer  is  a long 
cast  and  25  feet  or  close  to  it  can  be 
considered  “average.” 

A few  seasons  ago,  to  satisfy  my  con- 
tention about  this,  I carried  a 50-foot  tape 
measure  to  a favorite  stream  and  found 
out  exactly  how  far  it  was  from  usual  cast- 
ing positions  to  the  hotspots  I’d  cast  to  a 
thousand  times  previously.  Give  or  take  a 
10  percent  error  factor,  I discovered 
that  my  longest  usual  cast  was  48  feet. 
To  be  honest,  I thought  it  was  at  least 
50  feet  but  estimating  distances  is  an 
inexact  science. 

If  you  do  fish  a stream  regularly,  where 
25 -foot  to  40-foot  casts  are  the  norm,  an 
8-  or  9-foot  leader  will  do  nicely.  It  fol- 
lows that  you’ll  only  be  using  16  to  30 
feet  of  fly  line  at  all  times.  But  that’s  enough 
line  to  make  the  rod  flex  enough  to  allow 
an  accurate  cast.  Conversely,  with  a 
12-foot  leader  attached,  a 25-foot  cast  brings 
out  a mere  13  feet  of  fly  line  and  decent 
casting  becomes  a problem.  With  a 
20-foot  leader  not  enough  fly  line  is  brought 


into  play  to  cause  the  fly  to  do  anything 
you’d  like  it  to. 

My  personal  formula  for  small  stream 
fly  fishing  success  calls  for  a leader  that’s 
approximately  one-third  as  long  as  the  cast 
one  usually  makes.  In  other  words,  if  you 
ordinarily  toss  you  flies  about  18  feet,  a 
6-foot  leader  is  just  right.  If  your  casts 
drop  at  about  the  27-  or  30-foot  mark,  a 
9-footer  will  do  the  job  nicely  . . . and 
easier,  too. 

All  the  rules  go  into  a cocked  hat  when 
really  long-range  casting  is  called  for,  but 
generally,  if  you  can  throw  a fly  line  over 
75  feet  every  time  you  try,  you  don’t  need 
instruction  or  anyone’s  advice  on  leaders; 
you’re  already  in  the  expert  class.  Besides, 
at  that  range,  the  “one-third”  mle  would 
be  silly.  Who  needs  a 25-foot  leader 

The  problem  with  most  store-bought 
leaders  is  that  the  7 ^-footer  (the  most 
frequently  encountered  length)  usually  has 
a butt  diameter  far  too  fine  for  easy  cast- 
ing. At  the  other  end  of  the  leader,  the 
tippet  is  usually  too  fine  in  comparison  to 
the  butt.  The  solution?  Make  your  own 
tapered  leaders  or  modify  the  commercial 
ones  to  suit. 

I know  it  sounds  foolish,  but  nine  times 
out  of  10,  cutting  a piece  off  the  butt  end, 
say  20  inches,  and  adding  a section  of 


If  you  fish  a stream  regularly  where  25- 
to  40-foot  casts  are  the  norm,  a leader 
of  8 or  9 feet  will  do  nicely. 


.017-inch  diameter  material  will  help  a lot. 
Doing  the  same  thing  on  the  small  end  of 
the  leader  and  adding  20  inches  of  .007- 
inch  material  usually  helps  just  as  much. 
Try  it  and  see. 

It  has  long  been  evident  to  me  that  trout 
see  the  leader  no  matter  what  diameter  it 
is.  The  two  other  reasons  they  spook  so 
often  when  the  fly  strikes  the  water  is  line 
splash  and  a dragging  fly  (in  the  case  of 
dry  flies).  A longer  leader  will  not  nec- 
essarily solve  either  problem.  The  right 
size  line  helps  and  so  does  a leader  falling 
with  a lot  of  little  curves  in  it.  The  more 
wiggles  one  can  cast  into  the  leader,  the 
longer  drag-free  float  you’ll  get.  Doing 
this  is  easier  than  you  might  think.  Sim- 
ply, cast  beyond  your  target  by  a few  feet 
and  as  the  fly  begins  to  fall,  pull  back  on 
the  rod  tip  and  wiggle  it  from  side  to  side 
. . . ever  so  gently.  Lovely  little  “Ss” 
will  form  and  the  fly  will  float  to  the  sur- 
face as  softly  as  a butterfly’s  kiss.  Some 
20  minutes  of  practice  will  have  you  doing 
it  like  an  old  pro,  and  you'll  catch  more 
fish  ...  I promise!  [TT] 

August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


8 August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


igger 

Small moil  Ills 

with  Flies 


by  Lefty  kreh 


[ - mm 

■Hr  > r!  Vt.i  ■,  di>. 

Having  been  lucky  enough  to  have  caught 
almost  all  the  major  freshwater  species 
around  the  world,  I still  would  rather  fly 
fish  for  smallmouth  bass  in  a river  than 
try  for  any  other  species,  and  that  includes 
salmon,  steelhead  and  trout.  But  for  many 
years  while  using  a fly  rod,  I caught  very 
few  big  smallmouths  in  rivers.  Occasion- 
ally I would  hang  one  that  weighed  more 
than  4 pounds,  and  once  I had  a great  day 
and  caught  four  smallmouths  topping 
4 pounds  and  one  that  was  5 pounds, 
4 ounces. 

Generally,  the  fish  ran  from  8 to  13 
inches,  with  a few  bigger  ones  here  and 
there  to  keep  me  encouraged.  Nearly  all 
the  larger  bass  came  during  the  late  spring, 
summer  or  early  fall  on  popping  bugs.  For 
a long  time  it  was  a rare  catch  for  me  that 
brought  to  boat  a bass  of  more  than  3 
pounds  that  was  taken  on  an  under- 
water fly. 

A few  years  ago  I began  making  a change 
in  my  techniques  to  take  bass  and  it’s  paid 
off  in  bigger  fish.  I know  that  elephants 
eat  peanuts,  but  they  would  starve  trying 
to  fill  up  on  them.  It’s  probably  the  same 
way  with  big  bass.  They  may  take  a small 
fly  or  lure  sometimes,  but  they  don’t  do 
it  regularly.  A big  bass  when  it’s  hungry 
wants  groceries,  not  small  snacks.  Large 
fish  have  to  move  a lot  of  body  and  muscle 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


when  they  chase  something,  and  unless  it 
is  in  extreme  abundance  and  easy  to  grab, 
they  rarely  try  to  run  down  small  minnows 
or  other  tiny  foods.  Instead,  they  want 
something  either  very  easy  to  get  or  big 
enough  so  that  they  obtain  more  energy 
than  they  expend  during  the  effort. 

If  you  want  to  take  larger  river  bass 
consistently  and  catch  them  during  more 
months  each  year,  you  need  to  go  under- 
water with  flies  that  are  bigger  and  that 
imitate  food  attractive  to  these  trophy  bass. 
The  obvious  imitation  is  the  crayfish — a 
favorite  of  smallmouths  in  both  lakes  and 
rivers.  Hellgrammites  are  another  good 
imitation.  Also,  big,  buggy-looking 
“creepy  crawling  things”  that  can  be 
worked  along  the  bottom  may  not  look 
like  any  special  food,  but  the  bigger  bass 
will  grab  them.  Larger  minnow  patterns 
are  also  required. 

Minnows 

Let’s  take  minnows.  The  average  bass 
angler  considers  a smallmouth  fly  of  216 
to  3 inches  as  large.  But  one  of  3 16  to  5 
inches,  and  full  bodied,  is  far  more  likely 
to  raise  the  ire  of  a larger  bass.  Deer  hair 
has  always  been  the  major  material  used 
in  making  the  head  portions  of  many  larger 
bass  flies.  But  combed  wool  is  just  as 
effective  when  building  the  fly,  and  unlike 
deer  hair,  wool  when  wet  sinks.  You  may 
want  to  consider  using  this  material.  It  is 
far  easier  to  build  a head  with  wool  than 
deer  hair  if  you  are  a fairly  new  tyer,  too. 

One  of  the  best  smallmouth  minnow 
imitations  is  easy  to  tie,  but  not  available 


in  stores,  as  far  as  I know.  At  the  rear  of 
a 3XL  size  2 hook  tie  in  6 to  8 saddle 
hackle  V/2  inches  long.  White  is  a good 
choice  with  an  olive-dyed  grizzly  on  each 
side.  On  the  outside  of  the  hackles  place 
several  strands  of  Krystal  Flash  or  Krystal 
hair.  Pearlescent  color  goes  well  with  white 
hackle,  and  copper  is  also  very  effective. 

A pair  of  '/so-  or  '/35-ounce  lead  eyes  is 
attached  'A- inch  behind  the  hook.  The  en- 
tire straight  portion  of  the  shank  is  then 
built  up  of  spun  deer  hair  or  with  combed 
wool  of  the  same  color  as  the  saddle 
hackles.  The  head  is  then  trimmed  to  a 
minnow  shape.  This  results  in  a fly  with 
weight  (in  the  lead  eyes)  and  while  it  may 
not  cast  rather  well,  it  has  bulk  and  big 
smallmouths  will  take  it  quickly. 

Crayfish 

Another  excellent  fly  for  taking  big 
smallmouth  bass  is  the  Clouser  Crayfish. 
I have  fished  every  crayfish  pattern  that  I 
could  and  none  has  performed  for  me  nearly 
as  well  as  the  one  developed  by  Bob 
Clouser,  of  Middletown,  PA.  This  fly  can 
be  tied  or  purchased  in  several  sizes,  but 
for  big  bass,  the  largest  one,  weighted 
with  a monofilament  weed  guard,  is 
the  best. 

The  fly  can  be  fished  several  ways.  In 
long,  deep  pools  where  the  currents  move 
rather  slowly,  the  fly  can  be  cast  upstream 
and  across-stream  on  a sinking  tip  or  sink- 
ing line  and  allowed  to  drift  down  through 
a pool.  Watch  the  line,  just  as  you  would 
when  nymph  fishing  for  trout.  Any  pause 
on  the  drifting  line  means  maybe  a fish. 


so  set  the  hook.  With  the  weighted  fly  and 
mono  guard,  this  crayfish  can  be  allowed 
to  tumble  along  the  bottom,  where  it  is 
most  effective. 

I am  experimenting  with  a crayfish  pat- 
tern incorporating  two  hooks,  with  the 
second  or  rear  one  attached  to  the  first  by 
stiff  monofilament.  This  fly  has  great 
promise  and  has  delivered  a few  nice  fish, 
but  it  will  be  another  season  before  the  fly 
will  be  properly  tested. 

Drifting  nymphs 

There  is  another  method  of  taking  large 
smallmouths  that  is  just  becoming  popular 
with  a handful  of  experienced  smallmouth 
bass  fly  fishermen — drifting  nymphs  dur- 
ing the  spring,  summer  and  fall.  Locate 
long,  deep,  slow-moving  runs,  like  those 
on  the  Juniata  and  Susquehanna,  and  al- 
low your  boat  to  drift  with  the  flow.  Use 
lightly  weighted  nymphs  tied  on  size  8,  6 
or  4 hooks,  which  are  fairly  crude  in  ap- 
pearance, but  which  work  well.  A full- 
bodied  tail  of  perhaps  1 'A  inches  is  good 
to  add  to  the  fly.  I like  to  add  one  or  two 
strands  only  of  Krystal  Flash  of  the  same 
color  to  each  side  of  the  tail.  The  body 
can  be  built  up  with  either  chenille  of  the 
same  color  as  the  tail,  or  with  a spinning 
loop  of  fur,  which  sometimes  draws  more 
strikes.  Brown,  dark  gray,  olive  or  black 
seem  to  be  the  best  colors.  There’s  no  need 
for  exact  imitation  of  nymphs. 

The  fly  is  fished  the  same  way  you’d 
fish  a crayfish  fly,  but  try  to  fish  the  mid- 
depths or  near  the  bottom — not  right  on 
the  bottom.  What  you  are  trying  to  do  is 
present  it  with  the  current  flow  to  a big 
smallmouth. 

Vary  the  amount  of  weight  on  the  flies, 
color  coding  the  heads  with  thread  to  know 
which  is  which.  For  example,  a black  head 
is  heavily  weighted,  dark  brown  is  me- 
dium-weighted and  light  tan  could  be  lightly 
weighted.  I rarely  use  this  fly  unweighted. 
The  variance  in  weight  allows  you  to  use 
a fly  that  drifts  in  the  mid-depths. 

These  are  not  necessarily  the  only  pat- 
terns to  use  for  big  smallmouths,  but  they’re 
suggestions  so  that  when  you  tie  larger 
flies  that  represent  bigger  food  sources, 
the  trophy  smallmouths  will  take  them. 

With  such  large  flies  and  sinking  lines, 
you  can  extend  your  fishing  season,  too. 
Whenever  the  river’s  water  temperature  is 
above  45  degrees,  you  can  fish  with  these 
types  of  flies.  This  means  that  you  can 
expect  to  catch  bigger  smallmouths  in 
Pennsylvania’s  rivers  from  sometime  in 
April  (and  maybe  earlier)  through  most  of 
November.  E! 


10  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Leftv  Kreh 


C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 


by  C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 

Topwater  lures  provide  the  most  exciting 
way  to  take  both  largemouth  and  small- 
mouth  bass.  These  lures  are  fun  to  watch 
and  work.  Add  the  excitement  of  waiting 
for  that  explosive  hit,  that  slashing  strike, 
the  inhaling  of  the  lure  that  makes  up 
most  of  topwater  lure  strikes,  and  you 
have  the  makings  of  the  most  thrilling 
fishing  available. 

Making  this  action  happen  as  often  as 
possible  requires  more  than  a simple  throw- 
it-and-crank-it-in  retrieve.  These  simple 


retrieves  do  take  fish,  but  they  don't  make 
the  maximum  use  of  these  fun  lures. 

Making  the  most  of  these  lures  requires 
a collection  of  techniques.  The  most  suc- 
cessful anglers  modify  their  lures,  change 
retrieves,  and  leam  special  techniques  to 
provoke  bass  into  striking  from  anger  or 
to  entice  them  into  a strike  because 
they're  hungry. 

Here  are  20  tips  for  getting  the  most 
out  of  topwater  lures. 

ILeam  to  “walk  the  dog."  Walking 
the  dog  is  a technique  of  working  a 
cigar-shaped  topwater  lure  with  a 
regular  repetitive  motion  involving  both 
rod  and  reel  that  causes  the  lure  to  slash 
back  and  forth  180  degrees  as  it  zig- 
zags across  the  water  surface.  These 
lures  include  the  Ozark  Mountain 
Wood  walker.  Heddon  Zara  Spook, 
Gaines  Fat  Albert  and  Bomber  Stick. 

Done  right,  the  action  is  rhythmic, 
almost  hypnotic.  Done  expertly,  as  bass 
pro  Charlie  Campbell  does  it.  the  force 
on  each  part  of  the  zig-zag  can  be 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 1 


Topwater  stick  baits  can  be 
modified  so  that  the  line  can  be 
run  through  the  lure  and  a tail 
hook  with  a worm  can  be  added 
to  the  lure  for  drop  fishing. 


controlled  to  make  the  lure  gradually 
work  to  one  side,  “walk”  around 
obstructions  and  perform  other 
seemingly  impossible  feats.  The  basics 
require  a stiff  rod,  light  line,  smooth 
reel  and  a lure  heavy  enough  to  be 
controlled  in  the  water  without  floating 
too  high.  For  this  reason,  heavier,  larger 
lures  are  best.  Use  wood  lures,  which 
boat  lower  in  the  water  or  have  a 
buoyancy  that  allows  the  lure  to  “bite” 
into  the  water  surface. 

The  secret  is  to  work  the  rod  with  a 
short  jerk  and  the  reel  with  a similar 
short  retrieve  of  line,  to  give  the  lure 
just  enough  of  a jerk  to  make  the  head 
of  the  lure  swing  around  completely. 
Thus,  the  action  must  be  forceful  but 
brief.  Too  light  an  action  only  pulls  the 
lure  in  line  with  the  retrieve,  while  too 
much  jerk  moves  the  lure  too  far. 


12  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


C.  Boyd  Pfeifler 


Some  lures  have  built-in 
rattles.  The  large  ball  at  the 


perhaps  out  of  the  strike  zone  of  a 
waiting  fish. 

One  tip  in  starting  the  lure  working 
right  is  to  let  the  lure  completely  settle 
in  the  water  at  the  end  of  the  cast, 
because  the  shape  of  the  lure  often  tends 
to  cause  it  to  slip  sideways,  making  it 
easy  to  start  this  action. 

To  work  the  lure  expertly  around 
structure,  once  this  basic  technique  is 
perfected,  you  only  have  to  make  the 
movement  stronger  on  one  side  than  the 
other  to  cause  it  to  “walk”  around  a 
stump  or  rock. 

2  One  way  to  change  the  action  of  a 
topwater  lure  is  to  weight  the  rear 
hook  to  make  it  float  vertically.  The 
easiest  way  to  do  this  is  to  wrap  the  tail 
hook  with  fuse  wire,  experimenting  until 
you  get  the  weight/flotation  angle  just 
right.  Be  sure  to  wrap  the  wire  around 
the  shank  of  the  hook  to  leave  a 
sufficient  gap  for  striking  fish. 

The  advantage  of  this  ploy  is  that 
such  lures  can  be  worked  with  the 
slightest  touch  of  the  rod  and  reel  to 
nod  and  rock  in  the  water,  enticing  the 
bass  but  barely  changing  the  lure 
position.  This  makes  it  possible  to 
continue  to  work  a surface  lure  in  the 
same  strike  zone,  something  more 
difficult  to  do  with  a horizontally 
floating  plug  that  tends  to  swim  away 
from  the  area  with  each  movement. 

3  Add  a tube  lure  to  the  back  of  the 
topwater  lure  to  drop  it  down  and 
take  fish  on  this  trailer.  These  lures  look 


like  a tiny  hollow  hot  dog  with  one  end 
that  splits  into  a tail.  They  are  ideal  for 
dear-water  bass  and  allow  fishing 
topwater  lures  with  a trailer  that  can  be 
dropped  down  deep  for  fishing  in  open 
or  deep  water. 

At  one  time,  bass  pros  like  Jimmy 
Houston  would  take  Zara  Spooks, 
remove  the  tail  hook  and  line  tie,  drill 
through  these  spots,  and  glue  in  flexible 
plastic  tubing  to  run  line  through  the 
lure  for  a tube  lure  attachment. 

To  make  the  tube  sink,  the  line  is  run 
through  the  tube,  then  through  a bullet 
weight  and  finally  tied  to  a treble  hook. 
Today  the  same  technique  is  possible 
using  one  of  the  new  “drop”  topwater 
lures  such  as  the  Heddon  Drop  Zara  or 
Rebel  Drop  and  Pop. 

4  Add  a split  ring,  duo-lock  snap  or 
line  connector  to  the  front  line  tie  of 
the  lure  if  it  lacks  this  additional  line 
attachment.  This  gives  more  action  to 
the  lure,  especiJly  when  working  with 
heavy  line  in  thick  'over  that  otherwise 
tends  to  impede  and  dull  lure  action. 

Do  your  topwater  lures  continually 
catch  the  line  on  the  hook  when 
casting?  First,  check  your  casting 
technique  to  make  sure  that  it  is  smooth 
and  effortless.  If  this  doesn’t  solve  the 
problem,  or  when  you  fish  on  windy 
days  when  such  problems  are  more 
prevalent,  tie  the  line  directly  to  the 
screwed-in  or  molded-in  line  tie.  Cinch 
the  knot  up  tight  to  make  sure  that  the 
line  stays  well  away  from  the  hooks. 


6  Some  surface  lures  have  a tendency 
to  ride  high  in  the  water  and  thus 
make  less  fuss  or  noise  than  a lower- 
floating  lure.  To  correct  this,  drill  a 
small  hole  in  the  hollow  body  of  the 
lure  and  add  small  splitshot  or  BBs  for 
weight  and  noise,  or  mineral  oil  by 
means  of  a syringe.  Tape  the  hole  shut 
(to  prevent  water  intrusion)  and  test  the 
lure  after  each  addition  to  get  the  weight 
and  balance  required.  The  best  way  to 
test  the  lure  is  to  check  not  only  the 
casting  weight  and  lure  balance  on  the 
water,  but  also  the  change  in  the  lure 
action  with  various  types  of  retrieves. 
Once  you’re  satisfied,  remove  the  tape, 
dry  thoroughly  and  seal  with 
epoxy  glue. 

7  Use  the  right  line  for  the  fishing  and 
the  lure.  This  might  be  a light  line 
for  casting  5-ounce  topwater  lures  for 
smallmouth  on  the  upper  Delaware, 
Susquehanna  or  Juniata  rivers,  or 
heavier  line  for  fishing  a f-ounce 
topwater  lure  through  the  weeds  at  Lake 
Arthur  or  on  Lake  Wallenpaupack. 

The  best  line  tests  for  smallmouth 
bass  range  from  4-pound  to  8-pound  test 
with  6 best  for  most  situations — 

8-  to  14- pound  test  for  largemouth  bass 
fishing,  with  10-pound  test  in  all  but  the 
heaviest  structure  and  14-pound  test  for 
fishing  weedy  areas  and  thick  structure. 

8  Use  a stiff  rod  to  make  the  lure 
work.  Some  topwater  lures  have  a 
built-in  action  through  plates  or  amis. 
Some  create  built-in  noise  through 
propellers.  Some  have  no  action  or 
noise  at  all.  All  can  be  improved  by 
working  the  lure  actively  with  a stiff, 
preferably  high-graphite-content  rod. 

Soft  rods,  while  ideal  for  casting, 
have  little  effect  or  weak  effects  on 
lure  action. 

9  Use  a sensitive  line.  Many  lines 
today  are  very  sensitive — they  have 
little  stretch.  This  also  translates  most  of 
the  energy  from  rod  action  to  the  lure, 
making  them  the  perfect  combination 
with  graphite  rods. 

Pick  the  right  type  of  topwater 
lure  for  the  job.  Topwater  lures 
can  include  stick  baits  that  look  like 
cigars,  single-  or  double-prop  lures, 
chuggers  with  cupped  faces,  and  plugs 
with  plates  and  arms  for  built-in  action. 
Chuggers,  prop  lures  and  stick  baits  are 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


Topwater  lures  can  be  fished  in  thick  surface 
weeds  with  a slight  modification  to  the  hooks. 


often  best  for  fishing  largemouth  bass  in 
lakes.  Prop  lures  and  chuggers  are  best 
for  river  smallmouths  because  they  have 
more  action  when  you  float  the  lure 
down  a riffle  or  through  a good  pool. 
Size  is  also  important,  with  small  lures 
better  for  smallmouths  and  larger  lures 
for  lake  largemouths. 

Water  type  also  dictates  lure  choice. 
Plain  stick  baits  are  best  for  weedy 
waters  because  lures  with  props  and 
plates  can  pick  up  weeds  early  in  a 
retrieve,  rendering  them  useless. 

Running  water  often  calls  for  noisy, 
fussy  lures  that  will  be  noticed  and 
provoke  strikes. 

Add  a trailer  enticer  to  the  lure. 
Add  a thin  pork  strip,  small,  thin 
grub,  plastic  split  tail,  spinner  blade, 
skirt  or  similar  attractant.  Panfish  or  ice 
fishing  strips  are  ideal  to  prevent 
unbalancing  the  lure.  Pork  strips  and 
grubs  can  be  tipped  onto  the  tail  hook. 
To  add  a spinner,  use  a small  snap  in 
which  both  ends  open. 

These  items  are  easy  to  attach  to  the 
blade  and  the  tail  eye  of  the  lure,  and 
they  let  the  blade  flutter,  though  they 
don’t  allow  complete  blade  rotation. 

Rod  position  can  make  a big 
difference  in  fishing  topwater 
lures  because  rod  position  more  than 
anything  else  controls  the  amount  of  line 
in  or  floating  on  the  water.  Thus,  when 
fishing  quiet  water,  especially  with  a 
light  lure,  hold  the  rod  tip  down  so  that 
the  maximum  amount  of  line  is  in  the 
water.  This  allows  for  a more  controlled 
action  of  the  lure.  The  line  in  the  water 
partly  dampens  any  action  caused  by  the 
rod. 

Even  though  this  may  seem  to 
contradict  the  concept  of  getting  the 
maximum  action  out  of  a lure,  rod 
position  should  be  adjusted  for  optimal 
line/water  contact  for  best  lure  action. 
The  purpose  of  this  is  to  control  the 
action  of  the  topwater  plug  for  the  best 
possible  fishing  retrieve,  rather  than  to 
have  it  dancing  around  uncontrolled 
or  retrieved  too  rapidly  out  of  the 
strike  zone. 

Fast  running-water  fishing  often 
requires  just  the  opposite  action — 
holding  the  rod  tip  high  to  minimize 
any  line/water  contact.  Casts  are  often 
slightly  up  or  across  stream  in  rivers  and 
streams,  so  line/water  contact  increases 
the  bellying  of  the  line,  increasing  line 


drag,  and  in  effect  pulling  the  lure 
rapidly  downstream  in  an  unnatural, 
rapid  pace. 

Holding  the  rod  up  minimizes  this 
effect  and  allows  working  the  lure 
naturally  through  the  best  water. 

Topwater  lures  are  ideal  for  night 
fishing,  but  the  best  color  for 
maximum  visibility  by  the  fish  against 
the  night  sky  is  a black  lure.  Lacking  a 
black  topwater  lure,  any  lure  can  be 
converted  by  spraying  it  with  quick- 
drying enamel.  Protect  the  hooks  by 
covering  them  firsi  with  masking  tape. 

Quick  on-the-water  color  changes 
are  possible  with  several  new 
tackle  painting  systems,  including  those 
by  Master  7,  the  Color  Box,  Tester’s 
and  Catchin’  Colors.  Catchin’  Colors 
and  the  Color  Box  are  both  permanent, 
brush-on  paints  that  come  in  small 
bottles  with  a cap-attached  applicator 
brush.  Tester’s  is  essentially  special 
permanent  felt-tip  markers.  Master  7 has 
an  advantage  in  that  the  colors 
will  not  wash  off  but  can  be  removed 
with  alcohol. 

Topwater  lures  can  be  fished  in 
thick  surface  weeds  with  a slight 
modification  to  the  hooks.  Most  plugs 
are  equipped  with  two  treble  hooks,  so 
the  bottom  hook  point  is  usually  the  one 
that  snags  the  weeds.  To  prevent  this, 
use  compound-action  wire  cutters  or 
fishing  pliers  with  wire  cutters  to  clip 
off  this  bottom  hook  point.  (Use  care 
when  doing  this  to  prevent  being  stuck 
with  the  removed  hook.)  The  two 
upward-pointing  hooks  can  still  take 
fish,  but  will  glide  over  weeds. 

For  an  even  more  weedless 
topwater  lure,  completely  remove 
the  hooks  and  replace  them  with  wire 
weed-guard  single  hooks,  one  to  two 
sizes  larger  than  the  trebles  for  better 
hooking.  Use  a split  ring  for  this 
attachment,  arranging  the  hooks  so  that 
the  belly  hook  is  point-down  and  the  tail 
hook  is  point-up. 


Some  topwater  plugs  have  front 
and  rear  propeller  blades  for  more 
fuss  and  bubbles.  On  most  lures  both 
props  turn  in  the  same  direction,  in  time 
rotating  the  lure  in  the  water  and 
causing  line  twist.  To  prevent  this,  use 
pliers  to  turn  one  of  these  blades  so  that 
it  turns  in  the  opposite  direction  to  the 
other,  thus  countering  any  rotation 
tendency.  If  you  fish  these  lures 
a lot,  buy  those  that  have  counter- 
rotating blades. 

When  working  topwater  lures, 
use  the  slightest  possible  rod/reel 
movement  to  create  the  least  possible 
movement  to  keep  the  lure  in  the  strike 
area  longer  and  to  entice  the  bass  into 
hitting.  Good  rod  action  includes  tiny 
twitches  with  the  rod,  alternated  with  a 
short  retrieve  of  a few  inches,  a short 
stroke  to  make  the  lure  travel  a few 
inches  or  a sharp  jerk  to  cause  a 
chugger  to  pop. 

In  much  topwater  fishing,  the 
“strike  zone,”  where  the  fish  are 
found,  occurs  only  around  structure, 
within  a few  feet  of  the  shore,  in  a 
weed  bed,  or  in  the  shallows.  Avoid 
fishing  any  topwater  lure  in  barren 
water,  over  deep  water  that  is 
unproductive  or  away  from  structure. 
Thus,  in  any  cast  of  a topwater  lure  to 
structure,  perhaps  only  the  first  fourth  of 
the  retrieve  holds  the  potential  for  a 
strike.  For  this  reason,  rapidly  retrieve 
topwater  lures  once  the  lure  leaves  the 
productive  water  area. 

Don’t  do  this  if  you’re  fishing  in  the 
middle  of  a weed  bed.  A fish  can 
follow  or  strike  at  the  lure  anywhere 
from  its  first  landing  to  the  point  where 
you  lift  it  out  of  the  water  for  the 
next  cast. 

Analyze  each  cast  to  take  advantage 
of  the  productive  water  and  the  time 
spent  on  the  retrieve. 

Topwater  fishing  can  be  the  most 
exciting  angling  of  all.  Using  the  right 
technique  and  trick  for  the  occasion 
greatly  helps  to  produce  the  most  fish 
with  the  most  fun. 


14  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Dave  Wolf 


The  Commission’s 
King-of-  Prussia  Expo 

by  Larry  Shaffer 


The  Fish  Commission  recently  sponsored 
another  in  its  series  of  Fishing  and  Boating 
Expos,  cooperative  ventures  that  involve 
all  bureaus  in  the  Commission.  The  latest 
was  held  last  March  at  the  Plaza  at  King- 
of-Prussia,  just  outside  of  Philadelphia. 
These  expos,  which  are  held  on  a regular 
basis,  began  about  10  years  ago  when  the 
first  was  so  popular  and  drew  such  large 
crowds  that  it  was  moved  to  a large  shop- 
ping mall  in  the  Wilkes-Barre  area  with 
coverage  extended  in  a few  years  to  the 
southeastern  comer  of  the  state. 

Thousands  of  visitors  look  over  the  ex- 
hibits and  the  malls  report  more  people 
attending  on  the  weekends  during  which 
shows  are  held.  The  expos  allow  Fish 
Commission  personnel  to  meet  and  talk 
with  people  not  normally  seen  at  exhibits 
at  sports  and  boat  shows.  Often  unac- 
quainted with  the  Commission  and  what 
it  does,  these  visitors  have  the  opportunity 
to  talk  with  Fish  Commission  represen- 
tatives about  fishing  and  boating  in  the 
Commonwealth.  They  also  can  gain  a bet- 
ter understanding  about  fishery  manage- 
ment, amphibians  and  reptiles,  and  the 
aquatic  environment. 

For  anglers,  boaters  and  persons  new 
to  these  sports,  the  expos  are  an  excellent 
source  of  information.  Visitors  can  learn 
where  to  fish  and  boat,  they  can  choose 
from  a variety  of  publications  and  printed 
material  available  at  the  information  booth, 
and  they  often  gain  a new  awareness  about 
the  environment.  They  are  able  to  learn 
about  the  Commission’s  magazines  and  its 
educational  program  for  young  people 
called  the  Pennsylvania  League  of  An- 
gling Youth  (PLAY),  and  they  can  even 
buy  their  new  fishing  licenses. 

The  expos  are  an  educational  experi- 
ence, too.  Fish  Commission  personnel  help 
with  spin,  bait,  and  fly  casting  problems, 
with  plenty  of  room  available  to  practice 
casting.  There  are  demonstrations  of  fly 
tying  and  lure  making,  and  this  year  the 
expo  featured  working  models  of  a low- 
head  dam  and  a fishway,  or  fish  ladder. 


ication: 


Tithe  ci  Hivnh 
Go  Hshini  & Honting  s 


Kenny  Ferretti  (at  top,  above) 
distributed  publications  and  worked  in 
the  information  booth.  Art  Michaels 
(above)  described  Angler  and  Boat  PA 
content  to  expo  visitors. 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


15 


“Ted’s  Kids,’’  (below)  were  six 
signs  designed  and  painted  by  Ted 
Walke,  Commission  graphic 
designer.  Southcentral  Regional 
Manager  Frank  Schilling  sculpted 
each  wooden  figure.  The  signs 
pointed  the  way  to  booths  and 
demonstrations. 


I °1  mg 

r& \Wm 

— i ■ " * 

Commission  information  specialist  Steve  Ulsli  and 
Volunteer  E&l  Corps  representative  Mike  Oreski  (above) 
offered  casting  demonstrations  and  instruction.  They  also 
fielded  questions  from  onlookers  on  fishing,  casting,  and 
on  the  PLAY  program,  which  Ulsh  oversees.  Terry 
Christy  (far  right)  explained  the  tow-head  dam  model  and 
provided  boat  registration  details  at  the  Bureau  of  Boating 
booth.  The  expo  was  covered  by  two  Philadelphia 
television  stations  (right). 


Paula  Dubbs  (above)  worked  the  “Ms  Angler’’  booth. 


WCOs  Terry  Hannold  and  Gary  Stutter  (above)  offered  fish  filleting 
demonstrations  while  Eleanor  Mutch  (second  from  bottom,  at  right) 
sold  magazine  subscriptions.  Lucy  Bianchini,  Mary  Jane  Fortney 
and  Mary  Stine  (bottom,  at  right)  sold  fishing  licenses. 


16  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Da vp  Wnlt 


There  were  instructions  provided  in  fil- 
leting and  cooking  fish,  which  has  always 
been  one  of  the  most  popular  demonstra- 
tion areas.  Teachers  and  others  who  work 
with  youth  picked  up  valuable  information 
and  material.  They  also  were  acquainted 
with  the  Commission's  new  Aquatic  Re- 
source Educational  program. 

A total  of  26  different  exhibits  and  dis- 
plays were  featured  at  this  year's  expo. 
These  included  mounted  specimens  of  fish 
commonly  caught  in  southeastern  Penn- 
sylvania, state  record  fish  information, 
fishing  and  boating  sites  on  the  Delaware 
River,  stream  habitat  improvement  and 
protection,  the  cooperative  fish  nursery 
program  operated  by  sportsmen’s  clubs  with 
Fish  Commission  cooperation,  and  fishing 
equipment  for  women.  Fishery  biologists, 
waterways  conservation  officers,  educa- 
tion and  information  representatives  and 
fishery  engineers  answered  questions  and 


helped  in  any  way  they  could. 

Officers  from  the  U.S.  Coast  Guard 
Auxiliary  who  talked  about  boating  safety 
added  their  expertise  to  the  expo.  The 
Mainline  Fly  Tyers  demonstrated  and  dis- 
cussed their  sport,  and  members  of  the 
Montgomery  County  Bassmasters  talked 
about  bass  fishing. 

These  expos  are  an  important  part  of 
the  Commission's  responsibilities  to  help 
Pennsylvanian’s  become  acquainted  with 
the  vast,  diverse  opportunities  for  fishing 
and  boating  in  the  Commonwealth,  and  to 
understand  better  the  problems  facing  our 
aquatic  resources.  Watch  for  our  next 
Fishing  and  Boating  Expo.  We'd  like  to 
see  you  there!  [TT] 


Larry'  Shaffer  is  an  information  officer  in 
the  Commission  Bureau  of  Education  and 
Information. 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


Fishing  with 
Two  Poles 


by  Sue  Gerard 


Sam  and  Cole  were  1 4 and  1 6 months 
old  when  1 first  put  poles  in  their 
hands — small  sticks  kind  of  “play 
like”  fishing  poles,  that  is.  Oh,  we  didn’t 
catch  anything  that  year  but  that  didn’t 
matter.  We  just  pretended  that  we  were 
fishing.  And  that  mattered. 

I’d  load  them  into  their  antique  stake- 
bed  farm  wagon,  like  the  one  I used  to 
dream  about  and  didn’t  have.  And  I’d  pull 
them  down  our  long  driveway  to  where 
the  water  ran  across  a concrete  slab  from 
the  cow  pasture  to  the  woods  pasture.  We’d 
throw  driveway  gravel  in  the  water  to  hear 
them  go  “plunk.” 

Sometimes  we’d  float  sticks  and  leaves, 
our  boats,  and  watch  them  go  over  the  8- 
inch  waterfall  and  disappear  under  the  water 
only  to  reappear  in  some*  surprising  place 
where  the  current  had  taken  them.  And 
we’d  get  longer  sticks  and  beat  the  water 
to  see  it  splash  and  to  be  splashed  our- 
selves, sometimes. 

“Guys,”  I said  one  day,  “I'm  fish- 
ing.” That  started  it. 

We’d  hold  a stick — just  any  old  stick — 
and  wait  for  a bite.  Then  we’d  pull  out 
an  imaginary  fish  and  I’d  yell,  “Meat  on 
the  table!”  or  “That’s  a whopper”  or  “Get 
him  again,”  when  an  imaginary  fish  got 
away.  They  loved  it,  especially  about 
“whopper,”  but  they  couldn’t  pronounce 
the  word. 

We  talked  a lot  about  not  falling  in, 
about  how  fishermen  need  a lifeguard  just 
as  swimmers  do  and  about  not  scaring  the 
fish  by  beating  the  water  with  the  stick. 
But  we’d  do  that,  too,  after  fishing. 

I'd  hold  to  their  shirt-tails  and  say,  “Back 
up  fellows,  you  might  fall  in.”  The  little 
waterfall  had  carved  out  a pool  that  was 
about  a foot  deep  except  in  dry  weather. 
They  knew  what  “fall  in”  meant,  sort  of, 
because  we  played  a lot  in  their  plastic 
wading  pool,  but  Granny s hold  to  shirt- 
tails,  anyway. 

We  made  it  a game,  getting  back  up 
the  hill:  One  boy  would  push  the  wagon. 


We  talked  a lot  about  not  falling  in,  about  how  fishermen  need  a lifeguard  just  as 
swimmers  do  and  about  not  scaring  the  fish  by  beating  the  water  with  a stick.  But 
we’d  do  that,  too,  after  fishing. 


18  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Sue  Gerard  illustration  by  Jennifer  Bennett 


the  other  would  help  me  pull.  Then  they'd 
take  turns  riding  and  pushing  when  the 
going  got  rough. 

The  next  summer  we  added  a string  to 
the  stick  and  put  a cork  on  the  end  where 
the  hook  should  be.  Yes,  the  cork  was  a 
big  improvement  over  just  a stick.  We’d 
watch  for  the  bobber  to  go  under  and  go 
through  the  dramatics  as  before,  even  more 
so.  By  mid-summer  there’d  be  no  water 
running,  so  our  fishing  ended. 

The  year  they  were  three  they  helped  me 
choose  their  fishing  poles  from  a willow 
tree,  cut  and  trim  them  and  tie  on  strings 
with  bobbers  and  sinkers.  Now  they  could 
see  the  string  down  in  the  water  and  we 
were  almost  “really  fishing,”  except  that 
our  bait  was  a ball  of  lead. 

One  day  we  pulled  off  our  shoes  and 
socks  and  waded  in  the  shallow,  warm 
water.  “Hey,  Granny,  d’ya  know  what?” 
Sam  asked.  “No.  What?”  He  pulled  up 
a muddy  handful  from  the  creek  bottom 
and  said,  “This  is  sand!”  I knew  it  all 
along  because  I was  reliving  a bit  of  child- 
hood as  the  mud  and  sand  squished  up 
between  my  gnarled,  overlapping  toes. 

Then  Cole  waded  out  of  the  water  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  branch  and  called 
excitedly,  “Sam,  here!  This  is  REAL 
sand.”  He’d  found  clean,  dry  sand  like 
the  stuff  in  their  sandboxes.  The  fishing 
took  a back  seat  in  favor  of  sand  most  of 
that  summer.  I secretly  wanted  them  to 
get  back  to  their  fishing,  but  it  was  more 
important,  just  then,  to  play  in  sand. 

Little  children  bounce  from  one  fun  thing 
to  another  and  I was  determined  that  fish- 
ing should  be  all  fun  and  not  rammed  down 
their  throats.  So  we  carried  water  in  our 
cupped  hands  and  wet  the  real  sand  enough 
to  make  a huge  castle. 

As  we  piled  and  patted  the  sand  I won- 
dered how  I’d  introduce  them  to  hooks 
and  worms  and  taking  care  of  their  tackle 
and  cleaning  the  fish.  That  would  all  come 
in  time.  I shared  my  thoughts  with  them 
and  told  them  about  my  doctor  teasing  me 
saying,  “Don’t  ever  go  fishing  during  the 
first  week  in  June.”  Why?  He  had  re- 
viewed my  records  and  found  that  in  the 
last  six  years  he’d  removed  an  embedded 
fish  hook  from  my  hand  or  thumb  three 
different  times,  always  in  the  first 
week  in  June.  I warned  Sam  and  Cole 
about  carelessness. 

Somewhere  along  the  line  1 bought  some 
of  those  lifelike  minnows,  big  plastic  ones, 
that  fishermen  use  for  lures.  I tied  these 
to  their  lines  to  look  like  actual  catches. 


Sam  and  Cole  picked  up  the  “Meat  on 
the  table!”  and  “He’s  a whopper”  calls 
and  fishing  became  noisier  and  more  ac- 
tive than  ever. 


The  next  stage  would  be  with  sharp  hooks. 
But  that  could  wait.  I wasn't  ready  to  risk 
embedded  hooks  in  hands  and  thumbs  and 
we  were  having  too  much  fun  pretending. 

The  summer  that  Cole  and  Sam  were 
five  we  went  “fishing”  downstream  where 
the  water  was  so  deep  we  couldn’t  see  the 
bottom  of  the  deepest  part.  “I’ll  bet  the 
fish  are  backed  up  under  those  roots  wait- 
ing for  a worm,”  I said,  thinking  out  loud. 
“Worms,”  they  yelled  dropping  their  poles 
and  dashing  up  the  hill  toward  the  garden. 


I tied  on  a hook  and 
purposely  stuck  my  own 
finger.  Cole  and  Sam 
offered  their  fingers  to  see 
what  it  felt  like  and  I 
nicked  just  enough  to  let 
them  know  that  the  hooks 
were  sharp. 


They  had  helped  me  dig  worms  by  turn- 
ing the  mulch  back  and  picking  them  up 
or  pulling  the  reluctant  ones  slowly  out  of 
their  holes.  By  the  time  I got  my  tackle 
box  and  found  a can.  worms  were  squirm- 
ing to  get  out  of  their  dirty  little  fists.  I 
didn’t  have  time  that  day  to  teach  two  little 
boys  about  fishing  with  hooks  and  worms, 
but  there  was  no  getting  out  of  the  comer 
into  which  I had  backed  myself.  They  were 
fired  up  and  I had  to  see  it  through. 

We  hurried  back  to  the  place  where  the 
fish  were  waiting  under  the  roots  of  an 
overhanging  tree.  I was  planning  strategy 
as  we  walked — how  I’d  manage  to  “fish 
with  two  poles.” 

I tied  on  a hook  and  purposely  stuck 
my  own  finger.  Cole  and  Sam  offered  their 
fingers  to  see  what  it  felt  like  and  1 nicked 
just  enough  to  let  them  know  that  the  hooks 
were  sharp. 

Then  they  dug  through  the  dirt  in  the 
can  and  brought  out  a ball  of  worms.  “Let 
your  Granny  put  the  worm  on  this  time; 
I’ll  show  you  how  later,”  I said.  That  was 
O.K.  because  they  were  eager  to  get  their 
lines  in  the  water. 


Sam  held  his  line  in  his  left  hand  and  then 
let  go  as  he  swung  the  pole  forward  to 
make  the  cork  go  where  he  wanted  it,  as 
he  had  done  many  times  at  the  crossing. 
Before  1 finished  putting  a worm  on  Cole’s 
hook,  both  boys  were  yelling  that  Sam 
had  a bite.  I coached  him  a bit  and  he 
pulled  a little  fellow  out,  but  it  flopped 
and  went  back  into  the  water  before  he 
could  bring  it  to  shore.  “Get  him  again,” 
Cole  yelled.  There  was  much  jumping  and 
squealing  and  1 rushed  to  get  the  second 
hook  baited. 

I’ve  always  said  that  “Life’s  too  short 
to  fish  with  two  poles.”  There's  no  re- 
laxing when  two  things  are  demanding 
your  attention  at  the  same  time,  especially 
if  they  both  need  to  be  done  first.  Trying 
to  keep  two  little  boys’  lines  untangled 
and  hooks  baited  wasn’t  easy.  But  I was 
having  as  much  fun  as  anybody,  in  a very 
busy  sort  of  way. 

Sam’s  line  was  tangled  in  the  tree  be- 
fore Cole’s  worm  was  wet.  Both  boys  were 
frantic  to  catch  another  fish.  We  didn't 
have  to  wait  long. 

Soon  a shiny  minnow-sized  fish  was  out 
of  the  water.  “Can  we  eat  it?  Plea-a-a-se? 
Huh?  For  supper?”  I replied,  in  grand- 
mother fashion,  “We’ll  see.”  Could  any 
Granny  refuse?  This  one  couldn't!  I'd  been 
looking  forward  to  this  day  since  they  were 
infants  and  by  golly  I’d  see  it  through. 

Later  Sam  and  Cole  stood  quietly  and 
watched  as  I used  my  smallest  scissors  to 
clean  four  of  the  tiniest  bluegills  that  ever 
tasted  a worm.  The  longest  was  about  four 
inches  before  I cut  off  the  head.  1 didn't 
bother  to  remove  the  fins  and  tails  because 
they’d  crisp  up  in  the  frying  pan.  The 
scales  were  so  tiny  the  boys  didn’t  notice 
them  until  I rubbed  the  sharp  edge  of  the 
scissors  backward  to  get  them  off. 

Remembering  how  someone  made  my 
small  catch  look  bigger,  when  I was  young, 
I used  lettuce  and  parsley  and  sliced  lemon 
around  the  fish  and  put  a container  of  tarter 
sauce  in  the  middle.  The  boys'  eyes  bugged 
out  when  they  saw  their  wonderful  big 
platter  of  fish. 

Again  it  was  like  fishing  with  two  poles, 
helping  Sam  and  Cole  sort  tlesh  from  bones 
as  they  ate.  But  the  eating  was  not  nearly 
as  exciting  as  the  catching. 

In  fact,  eating  their  fish  wasn't  very 
important  at  all;  they  were  too  busy  telling 
about  their  great  afternoon.  Judging  from 
their  enthusiasm  it’s  a safe  bet  that  these 
boys  will  have  lots  of  fish  stories  to  relate, 
for  the  rest  of  their  lives. 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


19 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 





MAIL 

Mandatory  licensing 

I am  writing  this  letter  to  speak  out 
against  the  past  and  recent  push  to  make 
all  boat  owners  and  operators  required  to 
have  a license  and  take  a boating  course. 
I see  this  as  yet  another  opportunity  for 
the  states  to  gain  more  revenue  from  the 
already  overburdened  taxpayer.  Safe  boat- 
ing courses  are  a good  idea  for  every  con- 
scientious boater,  but  it  is  my  belief  that 
it  shouldn’t  be  a mandatory  affair  for  those 
boaters  who  obey  the  rules  and  regulations 
set  forth  already . Again  we  see  the  masses 
paying  for  the  wrongdoings  of  a few  ir- 
responsible people. 

Looking  at  the  current  strict  licensing 
laws  applied  to  automobiles,  we  can  see 
that  there  are  still  a few  who  drive  reck- 
lessly and  cause  problems.  I feel  that  all 
mandatory  licensing  and  mandatory  boat 
courses  will  do  is  pull  even  more  money 
out  of  our  pockets  for  fees,  inspections, 
courses,  and  maybe  even  catastrophic  loss 
funds  and  put  undue  restrictions  on  the 
affordability  of  the  great  recreation  of 
boating.  I am  of  modest  means  and  enjoy 
boating  a great  deal.  It  bothers  me,  in  fact 
threatens  me,  to  think  that  the  cost  of  hav- 
ing a boat  could  eventually  escalate  into 
being  as  expensive  an  undertaking  as  own- 
ing a car. 

My  boat  means  a great  deal  to  me  and 
I would  certainly  do  whatever  1 could  to 
keep  it  safe.  I am  sure  others  feel  the  same 
way.  My  solution  is  this:  Use  the  boaters 
courses  as  a reprimand  and  a punishment 
to  the  offenders  of  the  boating  regulations, 
and  to  the  majority  of  the  others  who  obey 
the  regulations  give  credit  where  credit  is 
due. — Dale  Rohrbach,  Fleetwood,  PA 


Ideas  on  pollution  article 

I have  just  finished  reading  the  February 
and  March  1988  issues  of  Pennsylvania 
Angler  and  would  like  to  comment  on  sev- 
eral articles.  First,  John  Arway’s  article 
“Anatomy  of  a Pollution”  in  the  February 
issue,  touched  home  with  the  many  prob- 
lems that  we  encounter  in  Clearfield 
County.  I had  the  privilege  of  being  as- 
sociated with  John  in  obtaining  an  Act  522 
designation  for  Rogues  Harbor  Run  wa- 
tershed. The  residents  and  sportspeople  of 
Westover  will  always  be  deeply  indebted 

20  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


to  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  and 
John  for  their  unselfish  assistance  in  ob- 
taining the  designation.  Without  it, 
“Anatomy  of  a Pollution”  could  have  been 
written  about  Rogues  Harbor  Run. 

Second,  I was  saddened  to  see  that  Cush 
Creek  was  added  to  the  stocking  list.  Per- 
sonally, I am  an  advocate  of  natural  re- 
production and  wild  streams.  I have  caught 
and  released  many  fine  trout  in  all  sizes 
from  Cush  Creek.  I was  always  very  se- 
cretive of  disclosing  the  treasures  it  held 
(20-inch  brown  trout).  I fear  that  the  pres- 
sure from  the  truck  followers  will  end  the 
wild  brown  trout  population  because  the 
stream  is  so  easily  accessible.  I think  that 
an  occasional  planting  of  fingerlings  would 
have  been  sufficient. — Kenneth  Vrana, 
Westover,  PA 


State  record  sauger 

The  picture  (above)  is  my  state  record 
sauger  catch  from  the  Allegheny  River  in 
Pittsburgh.  I wanted  to  share  this  record- 
breaker  with  you.  It  was  22  inches,  3 
pounds,  15  ounces.  I caught  this  fish  right 
before  dark  on  December  18,  1987.  I was 
fishing  from  shore,  working  a lure  over 
sandbars  when  the  sauger  hit.  At  first,  I 
thought  it  was  a walleye,  but  when  I landed 
it,  I knew  it  was  a sauger.  I usually  start 
in  October  and  go  until  the  weather  drives 
me  away,  and  I usually  fish  the  river.  1 
am  a plumber  by  trade,  and  fishing  is  my 
favorite  sport. 

Night  fishing  is  my  most  enjoyable  time, 
especially  the  wading.  At  night  the  wall- 
eye and  sauger  come  in  to  feed  on  min- 
nows. I release  most  of  my  fish.  I don’t 
carry  a net.  But  this  one  was  my  keeper, 
in  fact,  a record  catch.  I enjoy  your 
magazine — I read  it  every  month.  Keep 
up  printing  the  nice  articles.  They  are  very 
interesting. — Tom  Steiger,  Allison 

Park,  PA 


Wants  volumes,  single  copies 

I have  just  received  my  hardbound  cop- 
ies of  the  1986  and  1987  Anglers.  They 
are  very  beautiful.  Could  you  please  ask 
readers  to  contact  me  if  they  have  other 
volumes  or  single  copies  of  the  Angler  that 
date  before  1986?  I'd  like  to  purchase 
them. — Jay  Rhine,  315  E.  Main  Street, 
Middletown,  PA  17057 

Kudos  to  Duffy 

Last  April  8,  our  TU  chapter  here  in 
Erie  had  the  pleasure  of  being  on  the  re- 
ceiving end  of  a fine  presentation  on  acid 
precipitation  by  Richard  Duffy  of  the 
Commission’s  Volunteer  E & I Corps.  Mr. 
Duffy’s  presentation  consisted  of  some 
opening  remarks  on  the  nature  of  the  threat, 
followed  by  the  hard-hitting  film  on  the 
subject  produced  by  the  Canadian  gov- 
ernment. Rich  closed  by  recapping  several 
important  points  and  then  fielded  a few 
questions  from  the  floor.  I believe  that  the 
40  people  there  left  with  a considerably 
better  understanding  of  acid  rain  than  they 
came  in  with. 

We  in  the  Northwest  PA  Chapter  of 
Trout  Unlimited  have  set  education  on  en- 
vironmental issues  as  one  of  our  organi- 
zational priorities.  Mr.  Duffy’s  fine  pre- 
sentation fit  well  with  these  goals,  and  we 
fully  intend  to  make  use  of  his  services 
again  in  the  future.  We  also  understand 
that  he  is  relatively  new  to  this  area,  and 
we  intend  to  “spread  the  word”  on  his 
availability  through  the  sportsmen/conser- 
vation community  in  the  Erie  area. 

On  behalf  of  the  Northwest  PA  Chapter 
of  TU,  our  sincere  thanks  to  Rich  Duffy 
for  taking  the  time  to  be  with  us,  as  well 
as  to  your  office  for  seeing  that  these  op- 
portunities for  education  exist  in  the  Com- 
monwealth.— Robert  L.  Petri,  president, 
Northwest  PA  Trout  Unlimited,  Erie,  PA 

Canadian  comments 

I am  an  American  citizen  employed  by 
the  Canadian  Department  of  Fisheries  and 
Oceans  to  conduct  research  on  acid  rain. 

The  article  on  ALLARM  by  Dr.  Candie 
Wildennan  in  the  January  1988  Angler 
was  excellent.  Such  widespread  public 
participation  is  difficult  to  organize  and 
control,  but  if  we’d  had  such  programs  20 
years  ago,  the  bureaucratic  obfuscation  of 
the  problem  that  has  occurred  in  the  U.S. 
would  probably  have  been  impossible. 

Dr.  Wilderman’s  concerns  about  the 
Pocono  lakes  are  supported  by  other  evi- 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


dence.  The  U.S.E.P.A.’s  Eastern  Lake 
Survey  shows  that  the  alkalinity  that  nor- 
mally protects  the  lakes  from  acidification 
has  been  largely  destroyed  and  replaced 
by  sulfate  from  acidic  precipitation.  Our 
models  estimate  that  corresponding  pH 
decreases  ranging  up  to  2.5  units  and  av- 
eraging 0.7  units  have  probably  occurred. 
This  would  have  caused  the  elimination 
of  many  species  of  minnows,  crustaceans, 
leeches  and  molluscs.  Our  research  in 
studying  experimentally  acidified  lakes 
shows  that  such  species  are  important  in 
the  diets  of  fish  and  their  disappearance 
can  adversely  affect  sport  fish  much  ear- 
lier than  direct  toxic  effects  of  acid  rain 
on  fish. 

One  aspect  of  American  public  aware- 
ness requires  further  work.  Many  U.S. 
politicians  never  reveal  their  stand  on  key 
environmental  issues.  As  a result,  the  strong 
environmental  concerns  of  the  American 
public  are  blatantly  ignored  by  many  elected 
officials,  and  are  seldom  reflected  in  elec- 
tion results.  In  this,  an  election  year,  the 
public  should  demand  exposure  of  can- 
didates’ positions  and  past  performance  on 
key  environmental  issues  such  as  acid  rain 
legislation,  and  cast  their  votes  accord- 
ingly. 

Perhaps  your  magazine  could  invite  some 
national/state-level  candidates  to  expose 
their  views  on  acid  rain  in  print.  Re- 
sponses to  their  views  by  eminent  envi- 
ronmentalists and  environmental  scientists 
would  expose  any  flawed  arguments  for 
the  environmentally  concerned  to  see. 

Congratulations  once  again  on  publish- 
ing a fine,  informative  article.  Magazines 
like  yours  play  an  important  role  in  pub- 
licizing key  scientific  studies. — Dr.  David 
Schindler,  Canadian  Department  of  Fish- 
eries and  Oceans,  Winnipeg,  Manitoba, 
Canada 


Pollution  article  comments 

I’ve  read  your  article  “Anatomy  of  a 
Pollution”  in  the  February  1988  Pennsyl- 
vania Angler.  I think  the  problem  with 
acid  mine  drainage  from  surface  and  deep 
mines  is  very  extensive.  I have  seen  streams 
and  rivers  with  an  orange  tint  which  is  not 
a pretty  sight.  After  reading  the  article  I 
am  glad  to  know  that  the  Fish  Commission 
deals  with  the  problem  in  a professional 
manner.  It  is  nice  to  know  your  efforts, 
along  with  others,  are  out  looking  for  pol- 
luters of  our  streams  and  rivers. — Daren 
Murphy,  Slippery  Rock,  PA 


Trout  surprise 

The  photo  above  shows  the  surprise  catch 
of  the  year.  My  girlfriend  and  I were  bass 
fishing  at  Beltzville  Lake  in  mid-Novem- 
ber with  little  success.  Near  the  end  of  the 
day  I cast  a n;-ounce  jig  and  sassy  shad 
into  about  10  feet  of  water.  With  the  jig 
on  the  bottom  for  a couple  of  minutes  I 
turned  the  boat  with  the  electric  motor 
which  moved  the  jig.  Then  this  28-inch, 
7-pound,  13-ounce  brown  trout  hit.  The 
funny  thing  is  that  I never  fish  for  trout! 

I enjoy  reading  my  Pennsylvania  An- 
gler as  soon  as  it  arrives.  It  has  been 
informative  and  has  helped  me  learn 
about  local  fishing. — James  Wright  III, 
Ambler,  PA 

Mon  River  disaster 

It  has  been  one  week  ago  today  that  a 
storage  tank  in  Jefferson  Borough  rup- 
tured, spilling  over  3.5  million  gallons  of 
diesel  fuel.  Of  that  3.5  million,  more  than 
one  million  gallons  spilled  into  the  Mon- 
ongahela  River.  The  results  were  shock- 
ing— thousands  of  people  without  water, 
businesses  forced  to  close,  and  state-or- 
dered water  conservation.  Many  people 
spend  many,  many  long  and  tiring  hours 
trying  to  clean  up  the  mess,  preserve  wild- 
life, and  restore  water  supplies.  I have 
seen  a number  of  organizations  and  agen- 
cies receive  local,  state,  and  national  rec- 
ognition for  their  efforts. 

However,  I feel  almost  everyone  has 


overlooked  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Com- 
mission and  everything  they  did.  The 
number  of  personnel  that  worked  just  as 
long  and  hard  as  all  others  was  unbeliev- 
able. Naturally,  most  people  were  con- 
cerned about  the  immediate  impact  of  the 
spill  on  the  river.  However,  the  Fish  Com- 
mission was  concerned  also  about  the  long- 
term impact,  especially  since  the  Mon- 
ongahela  River  was  making  a great  come 
back  as  one  of  the  area’s  finest  fishing 
spots.  1 don’t  think  enough  praise  can 
be  heaped  on  these  men  and  the  entire 
Fish  Commission  for  all  they  did  during 
the  long  and  generally  sleepless  nights 
and  days.  My  hat’s  off  to  them  on  a job 
well  done! 

Within  minutes  of  the  spill,  1 was  on 
the  scene.  I had  two  roles  at  the  time — 1 
was  the  chairman  of  public  safety  for  Jef- 
ferson Borough  and  I am  the  Emergency 
Medical  Service  coordinator  for  the  South 
Hills  Health  System.  (The  South  Hills 
Health  System’s  Jefferson  Hospital  is  lo- 
cated only  several  miles  from  the  actual 
accident  site.)  After  determining  that  no 
injuries  had  occurred,  I approached  a Jef- 
ferson Borough  police  officer  and  asked 
which  agencies  had  been  notified  of  the 
situation.  He  informed  me  that  the  De- 
partment of  Environmental  Resources  and 
the  Environmental  Protection  Agency  had 
been  called. 

I then  suggested  to  him  that  it  would 
be  appropriate  to  contact  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  and  the  Coast  Guard  be- 
cause the  river  was  involved.  The  police 
officer  is  a friend  of  mine  and  knows  that 
I am  a “die  hard”  fisherman.  He  looked 
at  me  with  a smile  and  said,  “Once  a 
fisherman,  always  a fisherman.”  He  agreed 
that  both  agencies  should  be  called  and 
notified  the  dispatcher  to  call  them. 

I must  admit  that  one  of  the  main  rea- 
sons I thought  of  the  Fish  Commission 
was  that  just  a few  hours  earlier  I had 
received  by  latest  issue  of  Pennsylvania 
Angler  and  I was  reading  it  when  the  call 
came  in  for  me  to  respond.  I thought  you 
would  like  to  know  that  your  magazine 
was  a major  reason  why  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission  was  involved  so  quickly. 
Keep  up  the  good  work. — Ralph  L.  Travis, 
Jefferson  Boro.  PA 

Thanks  you  for  your  kind  comments 
on  Commission  personnel  and  on  the 
Angler.  We  plan  to  publish  more  infor- 
mation on  the  Mon  River  oil  spill  in  a 
future  issue. — Ed. 

August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Repairs 

A new  seal-coating  made  up  of  a coal- 
tar  pitch  mix  is  being  used  to  repair  several 
Commission  boating  access  areas. 

The  repairs  on  the  access  areas  began 
in  June  and  are  scheduled  for  completion 
in  September.  The  areas  will  be  worked 
on  during  the  week.  Monday  through  Fri- 


day, and  repairs  will  take  two  to  three  days 
to  complete,  weather  permitting. 

No  repairs  will  be  made  on  weekends, 
but  temporary  closure  of  the  access  areas 
may  take  place  during  repair  time. 

The  following  is  a list  of  accesses  at 
which  repairs  are  scheduled. 

Huntingdon  County:  Point  Access. 

Juniata  County:  Mahantango,  Mifflin- 
town.  Muskrat  Springs,  Thompsontown 
and  Walker  accesses. 


Lycoming  County:  Linden,  Rose  Val- 
ley Lake  accesses  (3  areas). 

Mifflin  County:  Musser’s  Dam  Access. 
Northumberland  County:  Sunbury 

Access. 

Montour  County:  Chillisquaque,  Dan- 
ville accesses. 

Perry  County:  Amity  Hall,  Greenwood, 
Montgomery  accesses. 

Snyder  County:  Sunbury  Access. — 
Sherri  Akens 


Anglers  jm.  „ 

Notebook 


o 


o 


The  nylon  or  polypropylene  rope  used  on 
your  anchor,  trailer  winch  or  as  a guide  rope 
will  not  unravel  if  you  melt  the  end  over  a 
flame  after  cutting. 

A landing  net  that’s  become  stiff  from  too 
much  wetting  and  drying  can  be  made 
supple  by  soaking  it  for  a few  hours  in 
fabric  softener  mixed  with  water. 

If  you’re  not  a saver  of  old  outdoor 
magazines,  like  the  Angler , don't  throw 
them  away.  Homes  for  the  aged, 
orphanages,  nursing  homes  and  even 
your  local  schools  (especially  the  biology 
or  natural  science  classrooms)  will 
welcome  them.? 

The  big-leafed  catalpa  tree  is  more 
abundant  in  the  South  than  in  Pennsylvania. 
But  catalpas  do  grow  here,  primarily  on 
estates  and  in  other  areas  where  they  were 
planted.  They  also  host  strong-smelling 
catalpa  worms  that  make  excellent  bluegill 
baits  in  summer  or  they  can  be  frozen  for 
winter  ice  fishing. 

Plastic  bread  wrappers  serve  yeoman’s 
duty  when  the  waders  spring  a sudden  leak. 
Slip  the  bags  (which  take  up  very  little  space 
in  your  array  of  tackle)  over  dry  socks  and 
you’ll  be  comfortable  again. 

When  your  waders  get  wet  inside  and  you 
have  to  wear  them  the  next  day,  don’t  use  a 
hairdryer  to  get  the  moisture  out.  The  build- 
up of  heat  trips  the  fuse  in  the  dryer  within  a 
matter  of  minutes.  Instead,  use  a low- 
wattage  bulb  on  the  end  of  a cord  and  lower 
it  inside  the  boot.  The  low  heat  dries  the 
waders  overnight. 


Miner’s  lamps,  available  through  many 
outdoor  mail  order  houses,  come  in  handy 
when  baiting  hooks,  searching  in  the  tackle 
box  or  tying  knots  during  night  fishing  trips. 

Wash  your  hands  thoroughly  after 
applying  insect  repellent  when  fishing.  The 
chemical  make-up  of  DEET  not  only  repels 
mosquitoes  and  gnats  from  your  skin,  but 
also  repels  fish  from  a plug  or  spinner. 

If  one  day  you  removed  a bass  from  a 
specific  bit  of  structure,  like  a stump  or 
overhanging  branch,  fish  it  again  the  next 
time  around.  Chances  are  another  fish  has 
moved  into  the  desirable  location. 

When  night-fishing  with  a Jitterbug-type 
plug,  don't  think  that  the  surface  bait  has  to 
gurgle  to  be  effective.  Finicky  smallmouth 
and  largemouth  bass  often  investigate 
Jitterbugs  retrieved  at  a painstakingly  slow 
pace.  Be  ready  to  set  the  hook  as  soon  as 
there’s  the  slightest  resistance  on  the  line. 

illustration  by  George  Lavanish 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation  of 
our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diver- 
sified fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of 
safe  boating  and  optimum  boating 
opportunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E., 
Executive  Director 
Lawrence  W.  Hoffman, 
Executive  Assistant 
Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

John  A.  Arway,  Division  of  Fisheries 
Environmental  Services 
Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shyrl  Hood,  Division  ofWarmwater/ 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
8 1 4-359-5 1 CK) 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.  A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O Banker,  P.E  , Division  of 
Property  Services 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edwtcd  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION 
AND  INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


22 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Hats  Off  to  Kids! 

It’s  a special  pleasure  for  me  to  write  this  month’s 
“Kids  Page.”  Until  this  issue,  all  the  material  on  the 
page  has  been  for  kids.  This  month’s  page  is  about 
them,  in  this  case  a third  grade  class  and  what 
they’ve  done  to  help  our  environment.  The  children 
are  students  at  the  Herman  Avenue  Elementary 
School  in  Lemoyne.  Their  teacher  is  Mr. 

Larry  Foose. 


As  the  result  of  a class  discussion,  the  children 
decided  to  start  a recycling  project  targeted  toward 
aluminum  cans.  Every  student  got  involved  in 
collecting.  Using  foot,  pedal  and  sometimes 
automobile  power  (parents  driving),  the  cans  started 
to  arrive  at  school.  Streets,  vacant  lots  and  trash 
cans  were  scoured.  Students  asked  their  friends  and 
neighbors  to  save  empty  containers.  Parents  helped 
by  bringing  home  cans  they  collected  at  work. 

When  I visited  Mr.  Foose  and  his  class  last 
March,  they  had  collected  22,693  cans  in  115  days. 
Of  this  amount  they  had  already  sold  1 9,046  cans 
weighing  716  pounds,  and  they  received  $313.  The 
class  goal  was  to  collect  and  sell  30,000. 

Mr.  Foose  told  me  that  the  project  provided  the 
students  with  many  worthwhile  lessons.  In  addition 
to  their  satisfaction  in  doing  something  for  the 
environment,  the  students  developed  a sense  of 
togetherness  in  working  to  reach  their  goal.  They 
learned  math  skills  in  finding  out  how  many  cans  are 
in  a pound  (25).  Weight  and  density  were  discussed 
when  some  students  felt  that  crushed  cans  might 
weigh  more  than  newly  emptied  containers.  Upon 
weighing  both,  they  were  found  to  weigh  the  same. 


The  students  learned  an  economics  lesson  by 
keeping  cans  and  waiting  for  the  price  per  pound  to 
go  up.  Record-keeping  was  needed,  so  a class 
logbook  was  developed  to  record  how  many  cans 
each  student  collected  and  how  many  were  brought 
to  school  each  day. 

The  daily  collection  rate  averaged  1 97  cans  and 
on  the  best  single  day,  800  cans  were  brought 
to  school. 

Social  studies  classes  pointed  out  the  need  for 
packaging  and  how  it  helps  stop  the  spread  of 
diseases,  prevents  food  from  spoiling  and  makes 
distributing  products  easier.  Some  children  even  had 
some  physical  education.  The  cans  were  crushed  to 
reduce  their  bulk  for  storing  them  in  the  school 
basement.  No  tools  were  used.  A vertical  leap 
coupled  with  a well-directed  foot  accomplished 
the  job! 

School’s  out  now  and  Mr.  Foose’s  students  are 
going  to  be  fourth  graders.  I’m  certain  that  they 
accomplished  their  goal  of  collecting  30,000  cans. 
They  encouraged  a first  grade  class  to  begin  a 
recycling  project.  They  also  did  what  a lot  of  adults 
still  resist  doing  today.  They  learned  from  their 
project,  they  influenced  others  and  they  got  involved 
in  doing  something  about  our  environmental 
problems  at  a young  age.  They're  the  hope  of 
the  future. 

When  I asked  what  they  were  going  to  do  with  the 
money,  they  were  still  thinking  of  ways  to  spend  it. 
They  did  use  it  twice — once  to  buy  PLAY 
memberships  for  each  student.  The  other  way? 

They  skipped  lunch  one  day  and  had  a pizza  party! 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


by  Aft  Michaels 

Even  though  you  probably  have  a system 
for  arranging  your  gear  in  your  small  boat 
or  canoe  with  a partner  or  two,  you  have 
to  do  some  things  differently  when  you 
venture  out  by  yourself.  When  you  boat 
alone  and  make  a few  adjustments,  you 
can  increase  your  angling  efficiency  and 
safety.  Here  are  10  ideas  to  make  your 
solo  boating  better. 


A Adjust  the  tilt  of  your  engine  so  that  the 
bow  of  the  boat  planes  properly  with 
one  person  in  the  boat.  If  you  use  the  same 
adjustment  alone  in  your  boat  that  you  use 
with  a partner  near  the  bow,  the  boat  will 
plane  upward,  and  you  will  lose  power 
and  waste  gas.  This  idea  applies  mostly 
to  12-foot  to  14-foot  semivees  and  john 
boats  with  engines  of  10  horsepower  or 
less. 


Check  out  your  boat’s  attitude  under 
way  on  a solo  flight  and  make  any  ad- 
justments that  let  the  boat  move  more 
smoothly  and  level.  For  instance,  if  you 
must  stay  at  the  stem,  put  your  gas  tank 
forward  with  other  fishing  tackle  to  bal- 
ance the  boat  better. 


2 Arrange  your  gear  so  you  don’t  have 
to  climb  around  in  the  boat  from  stem 
to  bow.  Keep  items  close  to  you  that  you 
plan  to  use  often,  like  camera  equipment, 
some  fishing  tackle,  and  a landing  net. 
Stow  food  and  raingear  in  the  bow  so 
they’re  out  of  the  way,  and  keep  your  lines 
coiled  in  the  stem  or  bow — not  under  your 
feet.  You  might  also  want  to  secure  coiled 
lines  to  the  gunwales. 

24  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


3 Place  your  anchor  so  you  don’t  have 
to  stand  up  to  toss  it  out  of  the  boat. 
Avoid  this  dangerous  situation  by  rigging 
the  anchor  so  that  you  can  raise  and  lower 
it  while  seated  in  the  stem  or  in  the  middle. 
You  may  want  to  buy  a device  that  permits 
lowering  and  raising  the  anchor  from  a 
fixed  position.  This  procedure  is  also  more 
quiet  than  other  methods  of  anchoring,  so 
you  don’t  have  to  frighten  the  fish  before 
you  make  your  first  cast,  or  scare  wildlife 
you  may  want  to  photograph. 

A set  of  line  guides  and  pulleys,  which 
you  can  bolt  to  your  boat’s  hull,  could 
also  work. 

The  safety  factor  of  anchoring  correctly 
is  critical.  Always  anchor  off  the  bow, 
never  off  the  stem,  especially  in  a current 
or  in  a wind. 


Decide  on  the  most  efficient,  quiet 
system  for  securing  oars  after  maneu- 
vering and  for  slipping  them  quickly 
and  quietly  back  in  the  water  when  you 
need  to. 

While  rowing  on  the  Delaware  River 
about  8 miles  north  of  Stroudsburg  one 
spring,  I saw  an  egret  stalking  the  shal- 
lows. The  magnificent  white  bird  froze 
motionless  for  a few  seconds  and  then  shot 
its  pointed  beak  into  the  water,  piercing  a 
herring.  I tried  to  balance  the  oars  on  the 
gunwales,  but  my  noisy  approach 
spooked  the  bird,  and  the  aviary  747 
flew  away  quickly,  causing  me  to  miss 
what  could  have  been  a series  of 
spectacular  photographs. 

After  dropping  those  oars  a few  more 


times  in  the  water  and  letting  them  crash 
to  the  floor  of  the  boat,  I stopped  this 
practice.  Still,  I didn't  like  the  idea  of 
removing  the  oars  from  the  oarlocks  and 
placing  them  somewhere  out  of  the  way 
in  the  boat — that  also  made  too  much  noise, 
and  at  the  time  I needed  them  for  maneu- 
vering because  I had  no  electric  motor. 
The  solution  to  the  problem  was  leaving 
them  in  the  oarlocks  but  letting  the  blades 
rest  in  the  stem  of  the  boat  by  way  of  clips 
that  I installed. 

5  Be  sure  you  let  someone  know  where 
you  are  going  and  when  you  expect 
to  return.  This  precaution — a float  plan — 
is  vital  if  you  often  make  solo  trips. 

A float  plan  should  include  the  specifics 
of  where  you  launch,  where  you  plan  to 


fish,  when  you  expect  to  return,  a descrip- 
tion of  your  boat  and  other  gear,  the  boat's 
registration  number,  a description  of  your 
cartop  or  tow  vehicle,  and  if  your  boat 
has  a CB  or  VHF  radio,  the  channels 
you  monitor. 

Leave  this  information  with  a respon- 
sible person,  like  a relative,  friend,  or 
neighbor,  and  be  sure  to  let  that  person 
know  when  you  arrive  home  again. 

6  Rig  your  fishing  tackle  before  you 
launch  your  boat.  In  this  way  you  make 
the  most  of  your  time  on  the  water.  You 
can  also  concentrate  on  motoring  or 
rowing  to  the  fishing  spot,  because 
alone  in  your  boat  you  can't  rig  up  while 
under  way. 


Solo  flights  are  a nice  change  of  pace 
for  some , and  for  others  they  are  a 
matter  of  course.  In  either  case,  making 
some  adjustments  can  pay  off  for  you  in 
increased  efficiency  and  safety  . 


7  As  long  as  you're  going  it  alone,  take 
full  advantage  of  the  situation  by  rig- 
ging up  a lot  of  rods  for  a variety'  of  fishing 
situations.  You'd  probably  gear  up  this 
way  with  a partner,  but  the  added  space 
in  your  boat  on  a solo  trip  lets  you  bring 
along  more  rods  and  tackle  than  you  might 
otherwise  take. 

8  Be  sure  you  know  the  waterway  par- 
ticularly well  if  you  make  the  trip  alone. 
You  can't  study  a map  while  maneuvering 
your  boat,  and  '‘pulling  over  to  the  side 
of  the  road"  may  not  be  convenient.  In 
addition,  exploring  without  that  second  pair 
of  watchful  eyes  can  be  dangerous,  es- 
pecially on  waterways  with  low-head  dams, 
bars,  reefs,  riffs  and  rocks  that  lie  unseen 
just  under  the  surface. 

Studying  maps  for  the  waterways  on 
which  you  make  solo  flights  is  a good 
idea.  The  Fish  Commission  has  an  infor- 
mation sheet  that  lists  sources  for  Type  3 
county  maps,  topographical  maps,  lake 
structure  (hydrographic)  maps,  river  maps, 
navigation/ nautical  charts  and  other  maps. 
This  source  list  is  available  free  of  charge, 
but  when  you  request  a copy  please  in- 
clude a business-sized  stamped,  self-ad- 
dressed  envelope.  Contact:  Publications 
Section,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion, P.O.  Box  1673.  Harrisburg,  PA 
17105-1673. 


9 Consider  carefully  the  amount  of  row- 
ing you  may  have  to  do  on  a solo 
flight.  Sharing  the  chore  with  a partner  or 
two  makes  rowing  long  distances  reason- 
ably tolerable,  but  tackling  the  task  your- 
self could  be  quite  an  obstacle. 

Be  sure  also  that  your  gas  tank  is  full 
and  that  your  battery  is  fully  charged. 


/ O Wear  your  PFD.  Putting  a PFD  on 
kJ  in  the  water,  even  in  calm  water,  is 
difficult — nearly  impossible  in  a real 
emergency.  So  if  you're  not  wearing  it.  it 
does  you  no  good,  even  though  you  may 
be  satisfying  the  legal  requirement  by  hav- 
ing it  readily  available. 

Finally,  boating  alone  can  be  a fresh 
change  if  you  love  company,  and  solo 
flights  for  some  are  simply  the  only  way 
to  go.  In  both  cases,  be  sure  to  implement 
plans  for  solo  flights.  [77] 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Delayed  Harvest, 
Artificial  Lures  Only 


by  C.  Blake  weirich 

With  the  implementation  of  Op- 
eration FUTURE  and  the  var- 
ious changes  that  took  place  in 
Pennsylvania’s  trout  program  in  1983,  a 
new  concept  in  special  regulations  came 
into  use.  To  provide  more  diverse  fishing 
opportunities  for  the  state’s  anglers  and  at 
the  same  time  to  increase  the  use  of  our 
stocked  trout,  delay ed-harvest  areas  were 
incorporated  into  our  trout  program. 

Because  of  the  topography  and  land  use 
in  the  southeastern,  southwestern,  and 
western  counties  of  the  Commonwealth, 
there  is  little  natural  trout  reproduction  in 
those  areas.  The  majority  of  the  trout  fish- 
ing is  supported  by  the  stocking  of  adult, 
hatchery-reared  fish.  Many  waters  that  are 
stocked  from  one  to  four  times  during  the 
spring  season  provide  high  catch  rates  for 


26  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Gronaw 


anglers  for  several  days  following  each 
stocking.  However,  after  three  or  four  days, 
many  stocked  fish  are  creeled  and  the  den- 
sity of  fish  is  reduced  to  the  point  at  which 
the  catch  rate  decreases  drastically  for 
most  anglers. 

Although  many  conventionally  regu- 
lated waterways  carry  stocked  trout  well 
into  the  summer  months,  when  the  catch 
rate  goes  down,  anglers  become  discour- 
aged. The  delayed-harvest  regulations  are 
designed  to  maintain  a high  density  of 
stocked  fish  in  a section  of  stream  over  an 
extended  period  of  time,  thus  providing  a 
desirable  catch  rate  for  fishermen  using 
the  area. 

The  streams  on  which  these  areas  are 
established  eventually  become  too  warm 
to  support  a high  density  of  trout  and  their 
water  flows  usually  decrease  during  the 
summer  months,  so  the  regulations  allow 
the  creeling  of  trout  beginning  on  June  15 
of  any  year.  The  delayed-harvest  idea  is 
actually  a mixture  of  the  catch-and-release 
concept  with  the  additional  aspect  of  al- 
lowing the  taking  of  fish  when  stream 
conditions  become  too  warm  and  habitat 
is  reduced. 

Tackle  restrictions 

To  attain  the  goals  of  a higher  catch  rate 
throughout  the  trout  season,  one  additional 
aspect  of  trout  mortality  had  to  be  incor- 
porated into  the  delayed-harvest  regula- 
tions. The  hooking  and  handling  mortality 
caused  by  catching  and  releasing  trout  one 
or  more  times  had  to  be  reduced  to  main- 
tain a high  density  of  trout  for  weeks  in- 
stead of  days.  This  is  the  reason  the  Com- 
mission incorporated  tackle  restrictions  with 
the  regulations. 

Significant  numbers  of  studies  had  been 
done  over  the  years  regarding  the  mortal- 
ity one  could  expect  from  the  catching  and 
releasing  of  trout  using  different  types  of 
fishing  gear.  A thorough  review  of  these 
studies  indicated  that  there  was  little  dif- 
ference in  hooking  and  handling  mortality 
caused  by  either  the  use  of  artificial  lures 
or  flies.  Both  types  of  terminal  gear  caused 
about  3 to  5 percent  mortality  as  anglers 
caught  and  released  fish.  Using  a baited 
hook  to  catch  trout  resulted  in  a much 
higher  mortality  between  30-40  percent. 
Therefore,  by  restricting  the  type  of  ter- 
minal tackle  that  could  be  used  and  im- 
posing a no-kill  restriction  from  March  1 
until  mid-June,  the  Commission  believed 
it  could  maintain  a high  density  of  stocked 
trout  and  better  catch  rate  in  the  delayed- 
harvest  areas  for  an  extended  period  with 
just  two  stockings. 


The  high  catch  rates  and 
the  emphasis  on  the  sport 
of  fishing  and  the  chance 
to  hone  one's  skills 
between  March  1 and  the 
opening  of  the  regular 
season  are  pluses  for  all 
trout  anglers. 


Survey  results 

One  thing  that  the  Commission  prom- 
ised to  do  under  Operation  FUTURE  was 
to  evaluate  changes  and  regulations  to  see 
if  they  were  working.  To  fulfill  this  prom- 
ise and  determine  if  the  delayed-harvest 
concept  was  working  according  to  theory. 
Area  8 management  staff,  with  the  as- 
sistance from  two  of  our  trout  hatcheries, 
the  coldwater  unit,  law  enforcement  and 
local  sportsmens  clubs,  evaluated  the  sur- 
vival of  trout  stocked  in  three  of  the  nine 
areas  that  permit  artificial  lures. 

In  1985,  two  areas,  a 2.2-mile  stretch 
of  Laurel  Hill  Creek  in  Somerset  County 
and  a 1 .5-mile  stretch  of  Loyalhanna  Creek 
in  Westmoreland  County,  were  stocked 
with  marked  brown  and  rainbow  hatchery 
trout.  A third  area,  the  delayed-harvest 
area  of  Coolspring  Creek  in  Mercer  County, 
was  stocked  with  clipped  brown  and  rain- 
bow trout  last  year.  All  three  areas  were 
electrofished  the  second  week  of  June,  be- 
fore they  opened  to  harvest,  to  estimate 
the  number  of  fish  that  remained  from  the 
mid-March  and  late  April  stockings. 

The  overall  results  of  our  surveys  were 
encouraging.  The  daily  loss  of  stocked  fish 
in  all  three  areas  ranged  between  0.5  and 
1.7  percent  per  day.  In  all  three  areas. 


over  35  percent  of  all  the  fish  stocked  were 
still  available  to  fishermen  up  to  90  days 
following  stocking.  In  most  instances, 
brown  trout  had  a better  survival  rate  than 
did  rainbow  trout. 

A comparison  of  survival  figures  in  Ta- 
ble 1 from  the  same  areas  of  Laurel  Hill 
and  Loyalhanna  creeks  before  and  after 
special  regulations  were  imposed  reveals 
the  success  of  the  regulations  in  sustaining 
a dense  population  of  stocked  trout. 

Although  it  takes  a specific  set  of  con- 
ditions to  make  these  areas  successful,  the 
overall  use  of  the  nine  delayed-harvest, 
artificial-lures-only  areas  presently  in  ex- 
istence has  been  excellent.  This  type  of 
management  program  is  not  suitable  for 
just  any  stocked  section  of  stream.  An  area 
has  to  be  fairly  accessible,  maintain  good 
temperatures  and  flows  well  into  the  sum- 
mer months,  contain  suitable  habitat  and 
provide  the  surroundings  that  add  aes- 
thetically to  the  overall  fishing  experience. 
The  future  of  the  delayed-harvest  concept 
promises  to  become  a desirable,  efficient 
part  of  the  Commission's  catch-and-re- 
lease program. 

The  high  catch  rates  along  with  the  em- 
phasis on  the  sport  of  fishing  and  the  chance 
to  hone  one’s  skills  between  March  1 and 
the  opening  of  the  regular  season  are  pluses 
for  all  trout  anglers.  Lor  those  anglers  who 
enjoy  some  leisurely  trout  fishing  on  a cool 
October  afternoon  or  want  to  cure  their 
cabin  fever  on  a warm  March  weekend, 
the  delayed-harvest  areas  offer  some  ex- 
cellent opportunities  year-round.  [77] 


C.  Blake  Weirich  is  formerly  Area  8 area 
fisheries  manager.  He  is  currently  an 
Aquatic  Resource  Education  specialist  in 
the  Commission  Bureau  of  Education  and 
Information . 


Table  1.  Comparison  of  stocking  rates  and  percent  of  survival  of  hatchery  fish 
under  delayed-harvest  regulations  with  stocking  rates  and  percent  of  survival  under 
general  statewide  regulations. 


Stream  area 

Year 

Stocking 

rate 

per  mile 

Percent  of 
survival  of 
fish  stocked 
to  mid-June 

Laurel  Hill  Creek 

1985 

2, 100/mile 

66.4% 

Laurel  Hill  Creek 

1978 

920/mile 

20.6% 

Loyalhanna 

Creek 

1985 

2,420/mile 

47.3% 

Loyalhanna 

Creek 

1978 

2,335/mile 

2.5% 

August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


27 


Every  few  years  Grandma  cleans  out  the 
smokehouse.  She  separates  treasures  from 
junk  and  the  latter  go  to  the  dump.  On 
occasion  she  selects  items  that  remind  her 
of  one  of  the  family  members,  usually 
grandchildren,  and  hands  them  down  for 
keepsakes.  She  gave  me  Grandpa’s  net. 

Cortland  manufactured  the  net  some  20 
to  30  years  ago.  When  1 received  it,  the 
mesh  hung  brittle  but  intact  and  the  elastic- 
belt  loop  showed  only  minor  fraying.  On 
the  wooden  handle,  Cortland  posted  a de- 
cal of  a life-ring  with  a motto  “It  floats.” 
Grandpa  kept  his  tools  in  order  but  was 
quick  to  put  them  to  use.  I decided  to 
follow  his  example. 

The  September  sun  shot  glancing  rays 
through  the  overhanging  oaks  and  beeches 
to  what  remained  of  the  creek.  Water  flow 
was  no  better  than  half  spring  levels.  Trout 
tend  to  be  edgy  creatures  in  good  times. 
In  low  water  they  border  on  paranoid.  Fish 
scurried  for  shelter  as  I approached  the 
first  pool. 

The  first  hour  was  hard  fishing.  The 
trout  still  in  the  creek  were  the  graduates 
of  earlier  stockings  and  the  trials  that  fol- 
lowed. The  easy  marks  were  gone. 

This  creek  stretch  was  a transition  zone 
between  stocked  and  wild  browns.  Up- 
stream, waterfalls  blocked  upward  migra- 
tion and  sheltered  the  gene  pool.  Down- 
stream, hatchery  fish  hid  in  culverts  that 
ran  under  the  road. 

About  three  in  the  afternoon,  I crawled 
up  to  a small  pool  to  study  these  fish. 
Three  trout  flirted  with  the  current,  duck- 
ing in  for  morsels  and  then  eased  back 
out.  Overhead  a light  breeze  shifted 
branches,  scattering  fish  whenever  a shadow 
crossed  one. 

I decided  to  hunt  fish  instead  of  cast  for 
them.  First,  I selected  a hole  and  stalked 
it,  looking  for  a hidden  path  of  approach. 
I stooped,  crawled  and  angled  through 
brush.  Then  1 used  all  eight  feet  of  my  fly 
rod  and  most  of  my  reach  to  hang  a fly 
over  the  pool  on  three  feet  of  leader  and 
slowly  settled  it  to  the  surface  without  let- 
ting the  line  touch.  A strike  would  follow 
and  then  a fish  if  played  properly. 


28  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


The  sport  was  challenging  and  fishing  at 
its  best. 

The  net  had  a workout,  mostly  unnec- 
essary because  of  the  close  quarters,  but 
a workout  just  the  same.  The  mesh  that 
had  seen  no  water  in  so  many  years  was 
not  ready  to  meet  it  again.  Dry  rot  took 
its  toll  and  I found  myself  with  a bottom- 
less handle. 

Grandpa  kept  his  tools  in  order  and  this 
was  still  Grandpa’s  net.  I decided  to  re- 
finish it. 

While  working  on  the  net,  memories 
percolated  like  the  spring  water  on  Grand- 
pa’s homeplace.  Though  we  only  spent  a 
few  days  afield  together,  he  had  a knack 
for  being  there  when  something  special 
happened. 

After  I cut  loose  the  mesh  from  the 
handle,  I sanded  carefully  through  the  var- 
nish coat  that  dulled  the  bright  wood  grain 
beneath.  The  decals  were  left  intact.  Fol- 
lowing the  sanding,  I wiped  the  dust  off 
and  gave  the  rough  spots  a second  look. 

When  I caught  my  first  big  bass — five 
pounds  to  a 14-year-old  is  huge — Grandpa 
netted  him.  The  bass  hit  a black  Mad  Dad, 
an  extinct  lure  that  resembled  an  elongated 
Jitterbug.  The  fish  fought  hard  and  stayed 
deep.  My  first  look  at  him  was  in  the  net. 

Grandpa  held  him  out  over  the  water, 
letting  him  drip.  Beaming  at  my  anxious 
pleading  to  have  the  fish  safely  aboard. 
Grandpa’s  patented  grin  showed  a plea- 
sure I never  understood  until  my  daughter 
caught  her  first  fish. 


With  the  wood  now  bare,  1 rubbed  in 
an  enhancer  to  make  the  grain  distinct  and 
brighter,  but  without  changing  its  color. 
After  repeating  this  process  and  allowing 
sufficient  time  for  drying,  1 applied  two 
coats  of  polyurethane  to  seal  the  wood 
from  the  elements. 

Only  once  was  1 able  to  return  the  favor 
for  Grandpa,  netting  one  of  his  fish.  We 
were  trolling  deep  for  trout,  back  before 
deep  trolling  became  a science.  We  con- 
tinually tested  attractors,  lures  and  differ- 
ent lines. 

Dad  used  lead  line,  which  proved  ef- 
fective to  about  50  feet.  But  at  this  depth 
the  belly  in  the  line  and  its  stretch  made 
it  difficult  to  set  the  hook.  I tried  copper 
wire.  The  copper  cut  the  water  directly  to 
the  lure,  but  was  lifeless  with  a fish  on 
and  the  smallest  kink  proved  disastrous. 
The  line  would  break  and  everything 
would  sink. 

Grandpa  tested  steel  piano  wire.  Fine 
and  flexible,  it  looked  promising.  But 
without  much  weight,  it  ran  only  15  feet 
deep  and  then  leveled  off. 

As  we  trolled  and  tested.  Grandpa  got 
a strike.  The  brown  came  straight  to  the 
top  and  broke  water.  Shortly  thereafter  the 
line  went  limp.  Grandpa  stopped  reeling. 

Dad  and  1 encouraged  him  to  reel 
quickly,  but  he  was  certain  the  trout  was 
gone.  He  started  bringing  his  line  in  stead- 
ily to  check  the  lure.  About  20  feet  from 
the  boat,  having  tried  the  oldest  trick, 
rushing  the  boat,  the  trout  changed  tactics 
and  ran. 

The  battle  was  real  now  and  Grandpa’s 
grin  popped  out  at  the  thought  of  having 
been  so  easily  fooled.  The  single  action 
fly  reel  worked  him  hard,  each  turn  taking 
in  only  inches,  each  run  taking  out  feet. 

But  in  the  end,  the  trout  came  up  and 
rolled  on  his  side,  gliding  forward  into  the 
net.  I held  him  well  out  over  the  side  and 
let  him  drip. 

A new  set  of  woven  nylon  mesh  now 
graces  the  net,  old  but  new,  his  but  mine. 

The  greatest  tragedy  of  mankind  is  that 
we  leave  our  material  possessions  behind, 
but  take  so  much  of  our  wisdom  with  us, 
making  the  young  start  from  scratch. 

Elders  carry  the  burden  of  parcelling  out 
their  wisdom  like  keepsakes  and  we  are 
the  losers  if  we  fail  to  collect  what  is  so 
willingly  offered  and  so  rightfully  ours. 

Grandpa  kept  his  tools  in  order,  and  he 
left  behind  more  than  just  a net. 


illustration  by  Ted  Walke 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


29 


The  Simple  Pleasures 
of  Wet-Wading 


by  Jim  Gronaw 

I hadn’t  been  in  the  water  very  long  before 
I got  my  first  strike.  It  came  as  I worked 
a tiny  crankbait  past  an  undercut  that  was 
gnarled  with  a network  of  roots  from  an 
old,  collapsed  elm.  A feisty  rock  bass  shot 
out  to  intercept  it,  but  instead  felt  the  sting 
of  tiny  trebles.  A short  but  spirited  battle 
resulted  in  the  release  of  a beautiful,  robust 
redeye  of  nine  inches.  A few  casts  later, 
by  the  same  undercut,  a large  green  sun- 
fish  inhaled  my  offering.  Continued  tosses 
by  the  roots  produced  several  more  rock 
bass  and  sunfish.  But  when  a heavier  strike 
indicated  a larger  fish,  I eased  over  to  the 
shallow  end  of  this  small  pool.  A pound- 
sized smallmouth  bass  cartwheeled  sev- 
eral times  and  bent  my  rod  with  powerful 
bursts  for  freedom.  Like  those  fish  before 
it,  I eased  it  ashore,  unhooked  it,  admired 
the  smallie  and  released  it. 

This  is  wet-wading,  a type  of  laid-back, 
country-style  fishing  that  is  perfectly  suited 
for  the  hot  summer  months.  It  is  ideal  for 
that  quick,  spur-of-the-moment  trip  when 
you  haven’t  got  a lot  of  time  for  prepa- 
ration. Wet- wading  requires  no  boat  trail- 
ering,  battery  charging  or  electronic  gad- 
getry.  There  are  no  reservations  to  make 
and  no  big  water  crowds  to  contend  with. 
There’s  just  you,  the  surroundings  and  the 
fish.  What’s  more  rewarding  is  that  no  big 
outlay  of  cash  is  needed  for  this  “easy 
fishin’’’  and  it  is  very  effective  on  a variety 
of  species. 

That  morning  on  York  County’s  Marsh 
Creek  didn’t  require  much  planning,  and 
the  refreshing,  initial  chill  of  creek  water 
was  a welcomed  relief  from  the  prolonged 
heat  of  August.  If  there's  a better  way  to 
beat  the  heat.  I'd  like  to  experience  it. 

Hotspots 

The  Commonwealth  is  loaded  with 
small,  wadable  streams  and  creeks.  Much 
of  this  water  is  approved  trout  water,  and 
certain  regulations  apply.  However,  many 
creeks  are  home  to  a variety  of  angling 
techniques  and  species.  If  you  haven't 
fished  small  streams  much  in  the  past,  you 

30  August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


should  concentrate  your  efforts  on  obvious 
fish-holding  structures. 

The  undercut/root  system  area  that  I de- 
scribed earlier  is  a classic,  small-stream 
hotspot.  Often,  such  undercuts  are  on  creek 
bends  and  most  contain  deeper  water.  Keep 
in  mind  that  on  a small  stream,  three  feet 
may  be  deep  compared  to  most  areas  of 
the  stream.  In  larger  waters,  six  or  eight 
feet  would  be  quite  deep.  Undercuts  usu- 
ally contain  the  deepest  water  on  small, 
meadow-branch  streams. 

Another  top  spot  would  be  the  classic 
riffle/pool  structure  in  any  length  or  depth. 
Faster-moving  flows  create  higher  dis- 
solved oxygen  in  the  pool  below,  making 
it  more  attractive  to  smallmouths,  sunfish 
and  trout.  Larger  pools  often  hold  a variety 
of  species  and  variety  can  be  expected  in 
these  areas. 

Many  anglers  overlook  the  glassy  calm 
tail  ends  of  these  pools  and  instead  con- 
centrate on  the  deeper  head  of  the  pool. 
When  wading  up  through  shallow  riffles 
and  approaching  these  calm  areas,  it  al- 
ways pays  to  make  several  casts  up  in  the 
calm.  Often,  a feeding  bass,  trout  or  cat- 
fish will  be  on  the  prowl  and  sponta- 
neously attack  a well-placed  lure.  Don’t 
be  afraid  to  try  this  water  even  if  it  is  only 
a foot  deep. 

Rock  ledges  or  boulder-strewn  areas 
should  also  be  investigated  thoroughly.  The 
abundance  of  large  rocks  or  ledge  for- 
mations usually  is  a good  tip-off  to  a dy- 
namite smallmouth  bass  pool.  In  such  areas, 
crayfish  are  often  the  dominant  forage. 
Small  crankbaits  that  resemble  these  crus- 
taceans usually  draw  plenty  of  strikes.  Also, 
smoke-colored  or  black  plastic  curly-tail 
jigs  in  Tj;-ounce  or  s-ounce  are  also  effec- 
tive on  a variety  of  species.  In  fishing  all 


types  of  creek  structures,  wade  upstream 
and  don’t  be  afraid  to  cast  close  to  boul- 
ders, logs,  undercuts  or  roots.  As  with 
all  other  types  of  structure  fishing,  wet- 
wading  requires  putting  your  lure  where 
the  fish  are,  and  this  may  mean  losing 
some  tackle. 

Lures 

I use  ultralight  spinning  gear  most  of 
the  time,  so  my  lure  selection  is  simple. 
For  minnow  imitations,  Mepps  Aglias,  both 
silver  and  gold,  in  sizes  1 and  2 and  light- 
colored  Roostertails  in  sizes  1 to  3 are 
ideal  for  duplicating  creek  baitfish.  Also, 
small,  slim-line  Rapalas  and  Rebel  min- 
nows up  to  2\  inches  long  are  excellent 
imitators.  For  crankbaits,  I would  have  to 
put  the  Rebel  Teeny  Crayfish  at  the  top 
of  the  heap  for  both  sheer  numbers  and 
variety  of  fish.  The  natural  finishes  seem 
to  produce  best  with  this  lure  and  I would 
strongly  recommend  that  any  serious  wet- 
wader  purchase  several  of  them.  They  are 
well  worth  the  high  price  tag. 

Recently,  Rebel  has  produced  a Teeny 
Frog  crankbait  similar  to  the  crayfish.  It 
has  a wider,  more  pronounced  “wobble’’ 
and  it,  too,  is  excellent  for  a variety  of 
stream  dwellers. 

To  round  out  your  lure  selection,  get 
an  ample  supply  of  unpainted  barbed  jig- 
heads  in  sizes  yg-ounce  and  s-ounce.  To 
complement  these,  pierce  action-tail  or 
“tubetail’’  style  (Gitzit  or  Canyon  Mini- 
Jigs)  to  their  collars.  The  tubetail  jigs  land 
softer  on  the  cast  and  descend  slower  than 
the  action  tails.  Sometimes  a more  delib- 
erate approach  is  needed  for  skittish  bass 
or  trout,  and  tubes  do  the  job. 

Favorite  colors  for  plastics  are  black, 
blue,  pearl,  brown  or  motor  oil,  and  com- 
binations of  brown  and  orange  or  black 
and  orange.  This  basic  color  scheme  suf- 
fices under  most  creek  situations,  but  you 
may  want  to  try  other  colors. 


wet-wading  is  a type  of  laid-back,  country-style 
fishing  that  is  perfectly  suited  for  the  hot 
summer  months. 


Clothing,  accessories 

As  the  term  implies,  wet-wading  is  just 
that.  An  old  pair  of  tennis  shoes,  well- 
worn  jeans  and  shirt  sleeves  are  proper 
attire.  Sure,  you  can  wear  wading  shoes, 
stocking-foot  waders  or  chest-high  ap- 
parel. But  then  it  wouldn't  be  wet-wading, 
would  it? 

It  is  wise  to  wear  long  pants  rather  than 
cutoffs.  This  helps  prevent  grass  cuts,  poi- 
son ivy  or  painful  stickerbush  encounters 


where  bank  travel  is  necessary.  Handy  items 
include  hemastats  for  unhooking  fish,  Po- 
laroid glasses  for  seeing  fish  and  struc- 
tures, and  a quality  insect  repellent. 

You  can  comfortably  carry  all  these, 
lures  included,  in  a lightweight  fishing  vest 
with  room  to  spare.  If  a vest  doesn't  suit 
you,  then  a small  tackle  box  is  ideal. 
Strapped  around  your  waist,  a “belly-box” 
flips  open  to  expose  several  compartments 
for  easy  access  and  lure  storage.  | pa  ] 


Wet-wading  is  easy’  fishing  with 
plenty  of  rewards.  You  can  carry  all 
the  tackle  you  need  in  a small  satchel 
or  tackle  box  (above  left).  A bluegill 
and  a rock  bass  (above)  were  some 
of  the  fish  the  author  fooled  on  one 
wet-wading  adventure. 


August  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Take  a ttrenti 


- Go  Fishing  8 Boating 


The  Keystone State's Off /< 


nine  / 


Straight 

Talk 

Independent 
Fish  and  Game 
Commissions — 

An  Unqualified  Success 

On  June  15,  1988,  the  Pennsylvania  House 
of  Representatives  adopted  House 
Resolution  291,  which  calls  for  an 
examination  of  the  “financial  feasibility, 
impact,  cost  and  savings  due  to  the 
elimination  of  duplications  of  personnel 
and  services,  of  combining  the  Pennsylvania 
Game  Commission  and  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission.”  Sponsors  of  this  resolution 
were  Representatives  Bowley,  Letterman, 
Staback,  Trello,  Pressman,  Pistella, 
Levdansky  and  Godshall. 

The  resolution  directs  the  Legislative 
Budget  and  Finance  Committee  (LBFC)  to 
conduct  this  study  and  make  an  interim 
report  of  its  findings  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  on  September  21,  1988;  the 
final  report  will  be  submitted  on  January 
25,  1989.  To  assist  in  this  undertaking,  we 
are  required  to  provide  office  space  for 
three  members  of  the  study  team  in  our 
Harrisburg  facility,  and  much  valuable  staff 
time  will  be  required  to  meet  the  study 
team’s  needs. 

On  July  5,  key  staff  members  met  with 
the  study  team  to  discuss  the  purpose, 
schedule  of  events,  preliminary  study 
statement,  ground  rules  and  a number  of 
other  items  surrounding  the  study.  During 
this  meeting  we  pointed  out  that  both  the 
resolution  and  the  study  plan  did  not 
consider  the  boating  program  nor  the 
boating  public.  The  study  plan  has  now 
been  revised  to  include  this  very  important 
activity  within  the  project  scope. 

There  have  been  many  studies  conducted 
concerning  merger  of  the  two  Commissions 
during  the  past  quarter-century.  Major 
studies  were  conducted  in  1962,  1970  and 
1976. 

The  most  recent  study  was  conducted  by 
the  Senate  Policy  Development  and 
Research  Office  in  May  1987,  and  it 
concluded:  “Any  attempt  to  merge 
Pennsylvania’s  fish  and  game  commissions 
should  be  carefully  considered.  The  basic 
purpose  of  a merger  is  to  create  a more 
efficient  operation  by  eliminating 
duplicative  tasks  performed  by 
administrative  personnel  and  thereby 
allowing  more  manpower  to  work  directly 
in  the  field.  However,  given  Oregon  and 
Washington’s  experiences,  it  is  clear  that  a 
merger  does  not  necessarily  guarantee  a 


more  efficient  or  responsive  operation. 
Secondly,  most  experts  in  fish  and  wildlife 
operations  regard  Pennsylvania’s  fish  and 
game  operations  as  among  the  very  best  in 
the  country.  In  their  view,  Pennsylvania 
would  risk  losing  this  quality  system  by 
merging  the  two  commissions.” 

During  the  past  quarter-century,  while  so 
many  people  seemed  to  feel  merger  studies 
of  these  two  very  successful  agencies  were 
badly  needed,  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  and 
Game  Commissions  have  been  quietly 
building  Pennsylvania’s  fish,  boating,  and 
game  programs  into  the  very  best  programs 
in  the  United  States. 

Statistics  on  the  numbers  of  1987 
fishermen,  registered  boaters  and  hunters 
show  Pennsylvania  has  1,127,284  paid 
fishermen,  which  ranks  us  as  the  seventh 
state  after  California,  Texas,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and  Ohio.  Each  of 
these  six  states  has  much  greater  coastal 
(ocean  or  Great  Lakes)  resources  than 
Pennsylvania,  which  has  only  42  miles  of 
Lake  Erie  shoreline  and  a small  portion  of 
the  Delaware  estuary.  Powerboating 
registration  in  Pennsylvania  is  251,154, 
which  ranks  us  number  14.  Pennsylvania  is 
ranked  eighth,  however,  among  inland 
states,  and  again  the  Great  Lakes  states  lead 
Pennsylvania.  Four  of  these  states  include 
registered  sailboats  in  their  totals.  The  paid 
hunters  in  the  Commonwealth  total 
1,173,841,  which  ranks  the  Game 
Commission’s  program  number  2,  after  the 
state  of  Texas.  These  facts  alone,  together 
with  the  very  reasonable  costs  of  hunting, 
fishing  and  boat  registration  fees,  tell  what 
a tremendous  success  these  programs  are  in 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  under 
the  independent  agency  structure.  Statistics 
also  show  that  fish  and  boat  programs  are 
continuing  to  grow  rapidly,  demonstrating  a 
strong  need  to  provide  more  specialized 
fishing  and  boating  expertise,  rather  than 
diversion  of  resources  to  other  programs. 

The  Fish  and  Game  Commissions 
already  coordinate  their  efforts  in  many 
activities,  and  have  already  initiated 
movements  to  determine  and  implement 
additional  cooperative  efforts  where 
feasible. 

At  its  quarterly  meeting  on  July  17  and 
18,  1988,  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission  discussed  HR  291  in  depth 
and  unanimously  adopted  the  following 
resolution: 

“The  Fish  Commission  is  long  on 
record  as  supporting  separate 
independent  Fish  and  Game 
Commissions  because  we  believe  this 
structure  provides  the  greatest  benefits  to 
the  anglers  and  boaters  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  idea  of  combining  the  Fish  and 
Game  Commissions  has  been  studied 
before  and  we  have  no  problem  with  it 
being  studied  again.  We  wish  to  make 
the  following  three  points: 


1 . That  the  Fish  Commission  go  on 
record  as  encouraging  full  cooperation 
with  the  study  by  the  Legislative  Budget 
and  Finance  Committee  on  the  merits  of 
combining  the  Fish  and  Game 
Commissions. 

2.  That  the  Commission  urges  the 
Legislative  Budget  and  Finance 
Committee  to  carefully  consider  the 
many  intangible  and  unquantifiable 
benefits  of  having  separate  independent 
Fish  and  Game  Commissions,  including 
the  fact  that  a separate  Commission  can 
better  respond  to  the  interests  and 
desires  of  the  boaters  and  anglers;  the 
fact  that  a bigger  bureaucracy  is  not 
necessarily  a better  bureaucracy;  and  the 
fact  the  personnel  and  services  provided 
by  the  Fish  Commission  do  not 
duplicate  those  provided  by  the  Game 
Commission  because  our  personnel  and 
services  are  dedicated  to  meeting  the 
special  needs  of  Pennsylvania  boaters 
and  anglers. 

And 

3.  That  the  Commission  urges  the 
anglers  and  boaters  of  Pennsylvania  to 
let  their  views  be  known  on  the 
important  issue  of  how  combining  the 
Fish  and  Game  Commissions  and 
changing  their  status  may  impact  on 
programs  that  are,  in  many  respects,  the 
envy  of  the  nation.” 

Pennsylvania  boaters,  fishermen  and 
hunters  are  in  an  enviable  position  to  have 
their  fees  and  license  monies  earmarked  for 
their  programs,  and  the  Commission 
believes  that  they  want  to  keep  it  that  way. 
There  is  a greater  issue  at  stake  than  simply 
economics,  and  that  is  quality  of  public 
service.  The  Fish  Commission  thinks  very 
strongly  that  bigger  is  not  necessarily  better, 
and  that  small  boats  sail  faster  and  more 
smoothly.  Confusion  and  shortcomings  in 
service  that  could  result  from  a merger  are 
major  factors  that  must  be  given  very,  very 
careful  study. 

The  Commission  looks  upon  the  study 
effort  in  a positive  manner  and  appreciates 
the  constructive  approach  the  LBFC  is 
taking.  We  agree  that  facts  are  needed 
before  further  consideration  of  a merger  is 
undertaken.  It  is  very  important  that  the 
study  includes  and  considers  impacts  other 
than  purely  financial,  and  we  are  hopeful 
that  the  study  team  will  give  these  issues 
proper  consideration. 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


September  1988  Vol.  57  No.  9 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Leon  Reed 
President 
Honesdale 
David  Coe 
Vice  President 
State  College 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 
T.  T.  Metzger,  Jr. 

Johnstown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Chairman 
Bloomsburg 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Edward  J.  Rogowski 
Holland 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Intern — Sherri  Akens 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Intern — Jennifer  Bennett 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 

f^nnsytvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harrisburg, 
PA  17109.©  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted  with- 
out the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission. 
Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1.50  each.  Sec- 
ond class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send 
address  changes  to:  Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For  subscription 
and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow  six  weeks 
for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Penn- 
sylvania Angler  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edito- 
rial queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be 
accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material  ac- 
cepted for  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  tran- 
sit. The  authors’  views,  ideas  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


Pennsylvania 

ANG 


hI- 

The  Keystone  State’s  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


AUG  31 1988 


The  Main  Line  Fly  Tyers  Club  by  Ronald  J.  Woodhead 
1971,  three  Philadelphia-area  fly  fishermen  created  one  of  Pennsylva- 
nia’s most  unique  educational  groups  4 

Crankbaits  and  Smallmouths  by  Mike  Bleech 
Some  rules  are  made  to  be  followed;  others  are  made  to  be  broken. 
These  rules  can  help  you  score  more  7 

The  1988  Pennsylvania  State  Envirothon  by  Sherri  Akens 
An  educational  opportunity  lets  high  school  students  test  their  outdoor 
know-how 11 


When  Children  Graduate  to  Fishing  from  a Boat 

by  Art  Michaels 

The  fun  of  family  fishing  really  starts  after  the  beginning  lessons  . 12 

The  Ultimate  Bottom  Rig  by  Sam  Everett 
This  setup  is  a real  fish-getter  when  other  methods  fail 14 

Adopt-a-Stream:  Habitat  Improvement  for  the  Future 

by  Julie  Lalo 

The  Commission  is  working  with  groups  across  Pennsylvania  to  pro- 
tect, conserve  and  enhance  our  waterways  16 

Ike:  Pennsylvania’s  Angling  President  by  Mike  Sajna 
Dwight  David  Eisenhower  was  a supreme  commander,  a U.S.  president 
and  a Pennsylvania  angler 20 

Motoring  Skills  for  Skinny  Water  by  Lou  Elkes 
This  season’s  low  water  could  force  you  to  pay  dearly  for  your  fishing, 
unless  you  apply  some  special  know-how 22 

Terrestrials  for  Tough  Trout  by  Harry  W.  Murray 
Trout  feed  heavily  now,  and  fishing  terrestrials  right  can  be  your  ticket 
to  success  24 

Kids  Page!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

This  one’s  about  marshmallows,  liver,  cheese,  hot  dogs,  bread,  corn, 
shrimp,  macaroni,  peas  and  chewing  gum  27 

The  covers 

This  month’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Jim  Bashline,  reveals  the 
results  of  a successful  fall  fishing  trip.  You  could  achieve  the  same  success  by 
checking  out  the  details  in  the  articles  beginning  on  pages  7,  14  and  24. 

This  issue’s  back  cover,  another  fall  portrait,  shows  boating  anglers  at 
Carbon  County’s  Beltzville  Lake,  in  Beltzville  State  Park.  This  picture  was 
taken  by  Tom  Fegely. 


STATS  LIBRARY  GP  PENNSYLVANIA, 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


The  Main  Line 


by  Ronald  J.  Woodhead 

So  you’ve  decided  that  before  next  spring 
you’re  going  to  learn  how  to  tie  flies,  im- 
prove your  fly  fishing  skills,  or  learn  about 
new  techniques  and  materials  for  fly  tying 
and  fly  fishing.  You  hope  to  find  a local 
club  or  a group  of  fly  fishermen  with  simi- 
lar interests.  The  fact  that  fly  fishing  is  not 
a team  sport  doesn’t  help  your  search.  It 
seems  like  a complicated  pastime  usually 
enjoyed  in  near-solitary,  sometimes  secre- 
tive conditions,  where  the  players  may  be 
fishing  for  trout,  bass,  shad,  panfish, 
salmon  or  steelhead.  Where  would  you 
find  a club  that  actually  focuses  on  such  a 
diverse  speciality? 

In  1971,  three  Philadelphia-area  fly  fish- 
ermen began  meeting  for  slide  shows, 
speakers,  and  discussions  at  Cox’s  Sport 
Shop  in  Bryn  Mawr,  with  the  idea  of 
building  a club  around  fly  fishing  and  fly 
tying.  From  those  initial  meetings,  held 
in  the  second-floor  ski  section  of  the  shop, 


Diversity  of 
interests 
characterizes  dub 
members; 
cooperative  spirit 
permeates  their 
meetings. 


the  Main  Line  Fly  Tyers  Club  has  grown 
into  a 115-member  organization  noted  for 
the  outstanding  speakers  scheduled  to  help 
local  fly  fishermen  with  “continuing 
education.” 

The  speakers  from  the  past  several  years 
are  both  an  indication  of  and  a reason  for 
the  club’s  success:  Eric  Leiser,  Lefty  Kreh, 
Joe  Humphreys,  Gary  Borger,  Dave 
Whitlock,  Chico  Fernandez,  Barry  and 
Cathy  Beck,  Bob  Clouser,  Boyd  Pfeiffer, 
Paul  Jorgensen,  Keith  Fulsher  and  others. 

The  lifeblood  of  any  club  is  the  mem- 
bers. Our  club  year  runs  from  September 
through  June,  with  meetings  the  third 


4 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


. 


i Thursday  of  each  month.  Dues  are  $25 
! per  year  and  we  draw  members  and  guests 
* from  the  entire  Philadelphia  region.  The 
average  member  travels  15  miles  to  our 
meetings. 

“Diversity”  best  sums  up  the  member- 
ship: ages  range  from  16  to  72;  occupa- 
tions vary  from  accountants  to  utility 
workers,  teachers  and  retirees;  fly  fishing 
experience  ranges  from  “but  where  do  you 
catch  the  flies  you  tie  to  your  hook?”  to  a 
lifetime  of  long-rodding;  interests  range 
from  bluegills  to  bluefish.  The  common 
denominator  is  a simple  desire  to  learn 
more  about  the  skills  and  tools  of  fly  fish- 


ing, tackle,  flies,  tying,  casting  and  places 
to  fish,  all  characterized  by  friendly  con- 
versation. 

Dr.  Jim  Grey,  a retired  chemist  and  club 
member  for  5 years,  noted  recently  that  he 
was  most  impressed  by  the  enthusiastic 
participation  of  the  members,  regardless 
of  the  meeting  theme  or  emphasis.  He 
said  that  the  club  always  has  outstanding 
turnouts  and  support  for  the  varied,  top- 
notch  speakers  that  are  scheduled.  He  also 
enjoys  the  one  or  two  members  demon- 
strating the  “fly  of  the  month”  before 
each  meeting.  Jim  fishes  for  trout  and 
Atlantic  salmon,  but  recognizes  other 


members’  interests  in  panfish,  pickerel, 
shad,  and  saltwater  species.  Finally,  he  en- 
joys the  club’s  well-stocked  library  of  fly 
fishing  books  and  videotapes. 

Member  Sid  Forrester  learned  to  tie 
flies  in  one  of  the  club’s  courses  last  year, 
and  this  is  now  his  second  year  in  Main 
Line.  Sid  remarked  that  he  has  enjoyed 
the  speakers,  citing  Gary  Borger’s  after- 
noon fly  tying  workshop,  held  before  the 
evening  meeting.  Sid  is  a manufacturing 
engineer.  He  said  that  the  club  stirred  his 
interest  in  fly  fishing  and  fly  tying;  he  likes 
how  the  club  is  operated  and  enjoys  fish- 
ing with  the  other  members  he  has  met. 

Seven-year  member  Gil  Learn,  a high 
school  teacher,  noted  that  while  fly  fisher- 
men can  be  a “secretive  breed,”  he  appre- 
ciates the  club  because  the  members  “are 
willing  to  show  you  what  flies  they  use, 
where  they  go,  what  techniques  they  use, 
and  how  to  tie  that  special  fly.  Books  do 
not  show  you  everything;  watching  some- 
one is  excellent.”  He  also  enjoys  the  qual- 
ity speakers  and  planning  for  the  June 
club  camping  weekend. 

Gil  told  of  the  time  he  watched  club 
member  Jack  Sebzda,  Jr.,  demonstrate  fly 
tying  for  the  club  at  a local  mall  exposi- 
tion. Sensing  Gil’s  interest  in  the  craft, 
Jack  offered  to  stop  by  Gil’s  home  to 
show  him  how  easy  fly  tying  can  be.  To 
Gil’s  amazement,  Jack  did  stop  by,  and 
the  3-hour  lesson  sold  Gil  on  the  club. 

Cooperation 

That  cooperative  spirit,  shown  by  many 
of  our  current  and  former  members,  is  an- 
other asset  of  the  club.  Not  only  is  that 
cooperation  evident  in  discussions  at  each 
meeting,  but  it  is  also  present  at  the  fly 
tying  courses  offered  each  fall  and  winter 
at  the  Upper  Moreland  Adult  Evening 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


School  in  Willow  Grove.  Club  members 
volunteer  to  instruct  both  basic  and  ad- 
vanced fly  tying  courses. 

Members  Dave  Baker  and  Sam  Vigorita 
not  only  head  up  those  classes,  but  they 
also  demonstrate  fly  tying  at  other  local 
fishing  workshops  and  expositions.  Mem- 
ber Bill  Dearden  summed  it  up  best  when 
he  said,  “the  members  make  the  differ- 
ence in  this  club;  they  are  on  top  of  the 
sport  and  are  willing  to  share  their  tips  and 
experiences.” 

It  is  obvious,  however,  that  a club  can- 
not run  on  good  intentions  alone.  The  es- 
tablished traditions  of  the  club’s  operation 
demand  a substantial  amount  of  volunteer 
time  by  the  club’s  leaders.  To  a large  ex- 
tent, the  success  of  each  year  depends  on 
the  amount  of  time  the  officers  can  devote 
to  it.  The  responsibility  of  operating  the 
club — lining  up  speakers,  setting  up  the 
meeting  hall,  arranging  for  fly-of-the- 
month  tyers,  keeping  up  with  member 
dues  and  mailing  lists,  writing  and  sending 
the  newsletter,  setting  up  the  refreshments, 
paying  the  bills  and  making  deposits,  seek- 
ing raffle  prizes,  and  even  coordinating  the 
members  in  charge  of  these  tasks— 
requires  regular  effort. 

These  may  be  efforts  that  are  not  recog- 
nized until  left  undone.  Sometimes  it  is 
difficult  to  attract  members  into  leadership 
roles  because  of  the  time  that  may  be  re- 
quired for  a “successful”  club  year. 

Ups  and  downs 

The  club  has  had  its  ups  and  downs. 
One  of  the  club’s  founders,  Ed  Ja- 
worowski,  said  that  in  1975  the  club  was  in 
a financial  valley  at  the  start  of  the  year. 
The  officers  took  a chance  and  booked 
three  nationally-known  fly  fishermen — 
knowing  that  they  did  not  have  enough 
money  to  pay  them  without  membership 
and  guest  support.  That  support  material- 
ized, thanks  in  part  to  the  popularity  of 
the  speakers  plus  an  anonymous  member 
donation  of  $500  and  the  club  was  well 
out  of  the  valley. 

Since  that  time,  other  “valleys”  have 
developed,  but  as  all  fishermen  know,  that 
is  where  the  streams  are,  and  members 
step  forward  for  the  strike.  The  point  is 
that  despite  the  established  traditions  and 
reputations,  the  club  lives  from  year  to 
year  not  by  resting  on  its  laurels  but  by 
encouraging  the  right  member  to  step  for- 
ward and  make  the  cast.  That  gradual 
change  of  leadership,  though  it  may  cause 
an  occasional  mis-step,  is  important  if  the 
club  is  going  to  change  with  and  serve  the 
interests  of  the  members. 


The  club  is  a $6,000-per-year  operation. 
The  table  below  tells  the  financial  story  of 
our  organization: 


INCOME 

48% 

Dues 

11% 

Guest  Fees 

24% 

Raffle  Ticket  Sales  (Monthly) 

13% 

Special  Workshops/Course 

4% 

Misc.  Income 

100% 


EXPENSES 

47% 

Speaker  Fees 

25% 

Meeting  Hall  Rent 

6% 

Newsletter 

6% 

Refreshments 

6% 

Club  Patch  Order 

10% 

100% 

Misc.  Expenses 

As  you  can  see,  most  of  the  club’s 
funds  are  directed  toward  the  speakers, 
and  the  speakers  generate  most  of  the 
memberships.  We  have  found  that  while 
our  speaker  expenses  for  a month  can  run 
from  $100  to  $700,  the  dues  and  guest 
fees,  combined  with  the  monthly  raffle, 
generally  exceed  our  expenses. 

In  addition,  special  limited-enrollment 
workshops,  held  in  the  afternoon  before 
the  meeting,  can  assist  with  speaker  ex- 
penses. For  example,  20  members  paid  $25 
on  a beautiful  November  afternoon  to  at- 
tend a fly  casting  workshop  with  Lefty 


Club  member  Sid  Forrester  learns  from 
other  members  and  shares  his  expertise. 

Kreh  at  a local  park.  Similar  fly  tying 
workshops  have  been  held  with  Dave 
Whitlock,  Paul  Jorgensen  and  Gary 
Borger.  To  some  of  the  students,  these 
workshops  have  been  even  more  valuable 
than  the  evening  audio-visual  presenta- 
tions. 

The  club  also  benefits  from  the  support 
of  regional  fly  fishing  shops.  The  shops 
provide  support  with  monthly  raffle 
prizes,  and  also  refer  many  new  members 
to  our  meetings  and  courses.  Each  month 
the  club  invites  a different  shop  to  set  up  a 
display  and  sell  fly  fishing  tackle  and  sup- 
plies at  our  meetings. 

So  what  makes  this  club  tick?  It  is  a 
winning  combination  of  the  sport  of  fly 
fishing  and  fly  tying,  our  members,  the 
program  and  speakers,  and  local  fly 
shops.  It  is  the  “resource”-fulness  of 
Pennsylvania  waters  and  fly  fishermen.  It 
is  the  time  spent  behind  the  scenes  “wind- 
ing” and  planning. 

One  thing  seems  certain:  From  the  for- 
mal workshops  to  the  informal  discussions 
among  members  at  our  meetings,  MAIN 
LINE  helps  lead  to  TIGHT  LINES! 


For  more  information,  contact  the  club  at: 
Main  Line  Fly  Tyers  Club,  Inc.,  P.O.  Box 
4695,  Philadelphia,  PA  19127. 


6 September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Don  Douple 


Mike  Bleech 


Crankbaits  and  Smallmouths 


by  Mike  Bleech 

If  you  follow  these  9,423,836  simple  rules, 
you  too  can  catch  smallmouth  bass  on 
nearly  every  cast! 

Well,  there  would  probably  be  at  least 
that  many  “simple”  rules  if  it  were  possi- 
ble to  get  a smallmouth  bass  on  every  cast. 
I have,  in  fact,  seen  times  when  we  did  get 
hits  from  smallmouth  bass  on  every  cast. 
It  happens  often  at  Lake  Erie.  But  I would 
be  the  last  to  suggest  that  such  occurrences 
are  matters  of  skill.  There  are  far  more 
times  when  it  seems  impossible  to  get  a 
smallmouth  to  strike  a crankbait.  These 
are  the  times  when  skill  comes  into  play! 

I have  no  idea  of  how  many  rules  it 
would  take  to  be  successful  every  time  out. 
But  I have  learned  a few  crankbait  tricks 
through  rubbing  elbows  with  many  good 
smallmouth  bass  anglers,  and  through  30 
years  of  playing  the  game. 


One  of  the  first  things  I learned  about 
crankbaits  and  smallmouth  bass  was  that 
there  are  some  “special”  plugs. 
Crankbaits  were  called  plugs  when  I took 
up  this  sport  in  the  mid-1950s  on  the  Alle- 
gheny River.  I always  figured  they  were 
called  that  because  they  were  generally 
made  from  a plug  of  wood.  It  was  not 
that  one  particular  brand  or  type  of  plug 
was  best.  There  were  individual  plugs  of 
several  types. 

My  first  special  bass  plug  was  an  old 
wooden  Bass-O-Reno.  I caught  my  first 
lunker  bass  on  that  lure.  Lunker  was  a 
new  word  then,  something  I read  in  the 
outdoor  magazines.  Ray  Bimber  and  I 
kept  our  wooden  rowboat  chained  to  a 
tree  along  the  river,  in  our  hometown  of 
Warren.  Like  most  kids  with  a one-figure 
age,  I had  energy  to  spare,  so  Ray  would 
let  me  row  around  the  river  for  a while 
when  we  began  each  outing.  After  I set- 


tled down  he  would  sit  in  the  back  seat 
facing  forward  and  row  me  along  the 
shoreline.  I sat  sideways  in  the  front  seat 
and  cast  toward  shore. 

I liked  the  lazy  side-to-side  action  of  the 
Bass-O-Reno  as  soon  as  I saw  it.  I did  not 
realize  it  at  the  time,  but  that  confidence 
the  action  of  the  lure  inspired  in  me  was 
the  prerequisite  for  any  lure  becoming  spe- 
cial. I had  confidence  in  the  lure,  so  I 
worked  it  hard. 

A few  10-inch  smallmouths  and  some 
rock  bass  attacked  my  new  lure,  so  it  was 
already  my  favorite  when  the  three- 
pounder  smacked  it  and  went  airborne. 
My  tubular  metal  rod  bent  as  it  never  had 
before  when  the  smallmouth  turned  its 
side  to  the  current  and  ran.  It  was  my  big- 
gest thrill  in  fishing,  up  to  that  point, 
when  Ray  slipped  the  net  under  my  prize. 

After  that  you  could  not  get  that  lure 
off  my  line.  The  Allegheny  River  had  a 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


great  smallmouth  bass  fishery  then.  I 
caught  so  many  bass  on  the  plug  that  the 
paint  was  worn  off  the  first  summer  I had 
it,  right  down  to  the  bare  wood  in  some 
places.  I went  into  the  water  after  the  lure 
each  time  it  snagged  on  a rock  or  log.  A 
few  times  the  line  broke,  but  I dived  under 
water  and  found  my  special  plug.  Finally, 
a northern  pike  ate  it. 

1 have  had  several  special  crankbaits 
since  then.  It  would  be  nice  to  say  there 
was  a pattern  to  this  selection,  but  no 
clear-cut  pattern  has  shown  itself.  Some  of 
the  crankbaits  had  tight  wiggles,  while 
others  wobbled  from  side  to  side.  Colors 
varied.  Sizes  have  ranged  from  a few 
inches  to  more  than  5 inches.  Most  have 
been  widely  popular  brands,  but  a few 
have  been  obscure  lures.  I certainly  have 
not  been  able  to  predict  which  lures  will  be 
special. 

The  lesson  in  these  special  crankbaits 
is  simply  to  be  aware  that  they  exist. 
They  are  not  rare,  just  unusual.  You  will 
come  across  your  share  if  you  throw 
many  crankbaits  at  smallmouths.  Treasure 
each  one. 

When  to  use  special  lures 

Even  special  crankbaits  are  not  cure- 
alls.  Even  the  hottest  crankbait  is  good 
only  some  of  the  time.  Some  of  the 
crankbaits  in  my  tackle  boxes  have  been 
hot  only  once.  The  trick  to  taking  advan- 
tage of  these  lures  is  knowing  when  to  use 
each.  But  this  is  not  a simple  thing.  In 
fact,  most  often  it  is  just  guesswork.  The 
only  alternative  left  is  to  try  each  lure  of- 
ten. However,  here  you  run  into  the  prob- 
lem of  wasting  too  much  time  changing 
crankbaits. 

This  is  the  kind  of  problem  serious  an- 
glers encountered. 

No  crankbait  is  effective  if  bass  do  not 
get  a look  at  it.  Once  the  bass  are  located, 
getting  your  crankbait  to  them  is  a matter 
of  depth  control.  This  factor  narrows  your 
choice  of  crankbaits — if  you  know  the 
depth  ranges  of  your  lures,  as  you  should. 

The  only  way  to  determine  the  running 
depths  accurately  of  a tackle  box  full  of 
crankbaits  is  to  have  strict  control  over 
everything  that  affects  the  running  depths 
of  those  lures.  This  includes  the  diameter 
and  buoyancy  of  your  line,  the  amount  of 
line  between  the  crankbait  and  the  rod  tip, 
the  height  of  the  rod  tip,  the  stiffness  of 
the  rod,  retrieve  speed,  and  so  on.  Obvi- 
ously, this  is  not  practical.  You  need  a 
shortcut. 

I divide  the  crankbaits  I use  for 
smallmouths  into  three  groups:  shallow 


runners,  medium  runners,  and  deep  run- 
ners. The  shallow  runners  run  between  the 
surface  and  4 feet  when  cranked  normally 
without  any  additional  weight  on  the  line. 
Medium  divers  run  from  4 feet  to  about  10 
feet.  Deep  runners  dive  beyond  10  feet. 

Using  this  system,  I can  quickly  tune 
into  Fishing  conditions  by  getting  a lure  to 
the  precise  depth  I need.  It  might  require 
changing  lures  a few  times,  but  this  is  close 
enough  for  practical  purposes.  With  expe- 
rience you  can  learn,  in  relative  terms, 
which  lures  dive  deeper  or  shallower, 

Thus,  if  I am  trying  to  dig  bottom  with 
my  crankbait  in  12  feet  of  water,  I know 
enough  to  use  one  of  my  deep  runners. 
And  if  the  First  crankbait  I try  does  not  get 
to  the  bottom,  I know  another  crankbait 
to  try  next  that  dives  a bit  deeper. 

Depth  control 

Depth  control  in  itself  is  a confusing  is- 
sue. Most  smallmouth  bass  anglers  relate 
the  depth  of  the  bass  to  the  bottom  of  the 
lake  or  stream,  which  usually  works. 
Sometimes,  though,  the  bass  are  condi- 
tioned to  feeding  at  mid-depths.  The  dif- 
ference between  bottom-feeding  bass  and 
those  that  feed  at  mid-depths  is  in  what 
the  bass  are  eating.  Bottom-feeders  are 
usually  looking  for  crayFish,  while  mid- 
depth feeders  are  usually  looking  for  some 
type  of  free-roaming  baitflsh  such  as  shad 
or  shiners. 

It  follows  that  lures  run  along  the  bot- 
tom should  resemble  crayFish,  while  mid- 
depth lures  should  resemble  small  Fish. 

Use  those  stubby,  big-lipped  lures  for 
digging  along  the  bottom.  It  has  been  my 
experience  that  the  lures  with  rounded  lips 
are  least  likely  to  hang  on  the  bottom.  I 
generally  pick  a crayFish-colored  lure  for 
this  purpose.  Orange,  chartreuse  and 
black  are  the  colors  I turn  to  when  the 
natural  color  does  not  get  the  job  done. 

Use  floating  minnow  lures  or  shad- 
shaped lures  for  working  the  mid-depths. 
These  lures  are  made  in  several  sizes.  It  is 
often  important  to  match  the  size  of  bait- 
fish  on  which  the  bass  are  feeding.  The 
most  popular  minnow-imitating  crank- 
baits have  been  shallow  runners. 

Do  not  overlook  the  deeper  diving  ver- 
sions of  these  lures,  though.  Some  dive  be- 
yond 15  feet.  Mid-depth  presentations  are 
not  necessarily  shallow  presentations.  Bait- 
Fish  are  certainly  not  restricted  to  the  up- 
per few  feet  of  water. 

In  the  cases  of  both  baitFish-imitating 
and  crayFish-imitating  crankbaits,  try  to 
make  them  act  like  the  real  thing.  Check 
out  “Make  ‘em  Look  Alive,”  in  the  April 


An  advanced  angler 
knows  how  important 
confidence  is  in  this 
game.  You  do  a better 
job  with  “confidence 
lures." 


8 September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


)-*V 


1988  Pennsylvania  Angler.  Crayfish  crawl 
slowly  along  the  bottom  and  make  short 
bursts  of  speed  when  alarmed.  They  stop 
frequently,  but  not  for  long.  The  baitfish 
you  should  try  to  imitate,  generally,  are  in- 
jured baitfish.  They  flutter  and  flash  and 
do  not  go  far  in  a straight  line. 

Late  introduction 

The  main  difference  between  an  ad- 
vanced angler  and  an  average  angler  is  that 
the  average  angler  does  not  take  some 
things  as  seriously  as  does  the  advanced 
angler,  and  vice  versa.  Take  the  color  fac- 
tor. The  average  angler  is  more  apt  to  get 
wrapped  up  in  color  than  an  advanced 
angler.  Talk  about  hook-sharpening  tech- 


niques, though,  and  the  average  angler 
will  probably  lose  interest  quickly,  while 
the  advanced  angler  will  pull  out  a file  and 
start  comparing. 

Those  special  lures  are  what  the  ad- 
vanced angler  might  call  “confidence” 
lures.  An  experienced  smallmouth  bass  an- 
gler knows  that  all  lures  are  not  created 
equal.  Some  are  better  than  others.  An 
advanced  angler  knows  how  important 
confidence  is  in  this  game.  You  do  a better 
job  with  the  confidence  lures. 

But  at  the  same  time  realize  that  you 
stop  learning  when  you  stop  experiment- 
ing. You  should  not  use  your  confidence 
lures  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other 
crankbaits.  Through  experimentation  you 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Success  on  smallmouth  bass  often  means  tuning  crankbaits  according  to  the 

manufacturer’s  instructions. 


found  confidence  lures,  and  only  through 
more  experimentation  can  you  discover 
other  confidence  lures. 

Casual  and  especially  beginning  anglers 
look  for  great  things  that  will  instantly 
transform  them  into  successful  anglers. 
Advanced  anglers  realize  that  it  is  an  accu- 
mulation of  a multitude  of  things  that 
adds  to  success. 

Fussy  fish 

Smallmouth  bass  are  a particularly  in- 
teresting subject  of  study  for  serious  an- 
glers, because  these  fish  can  be  so  fussy. 
Take,  for  example,  an  outing  on  the  Bro- 
kenstraw  Creek  with  my  longtime  fishing 
pal  Bill  Anderson. 

Bill  must  have  caught  a few  dozen 
smallmouths,  while  1 caught  just  two  or 
three.  He  was  using  a small  orange 
crankbait,  a shallow  runner.  After  a while 
I switched  to  the  same  kind  of  color  and 
lure,  but  I still  did  not  keep  pace  with  Bill. 
So  1 went  through  a mental  checklist  of 
anything  that  might  affect  the  productivity 
of  our  crankbaits. 

We  were  fishing  the  same  water,  and  in 
the  same  manner.  We  were  using  the  same 
rods,  lines  and  reels.  In  desperation  we 
traded  crankbaits.  They  were  so  similar 
that  had  we  mixed  them  we  would  have 


not  been  able  to  tell  which  was  which.  But 
even  after  trading  lures  Bill  still  caught 
more  bass  than  I did.  How  frustrating! 

Then  I noticed  that  Bill  was  attaching 
his  crankbaits  to  the  line  with  a loop  knot, 
while  I cinched  my  knots  right  down  on 
the  lure  eye.  I changed  my  knot  to  match 
Bill’s.  On  the  first  retrieve  I could  feel  the 
difference.  The  crankbait  sent  a much 
stronger  signal  through  the  rod  with  the 
loop  knot,  and  I started  catching  bass  as 
fast  as  Bill. 

Of  course,  the  action  slowed  shortly  af- 
ter I tuned  in  on  the  proper  technique.  But 
the  lesson  was  learned.  However,  this  does 
not  mean  that  a loop  knot  should  always 
be  used  with  crankbaits — just  sometimes 
and  with  some  crankbaits. 

To  gain  real  control  over  the  crankbait- 
ing game,  recognize  as  many  variable  fac- 
tors as  possible  so  you  know  what  your 
options  are.  With  the  special  lure  idea  the 
broad  lure  choice  varies.  Examine  depth 
control  as  it  relates  to  smallmouth  diets, 
which  shows  that  some  variables  are  fac- 
tors of  other  variables. 

Tuning  lures 

One  of  the  crankbait  control  factors  fre- 
quently written  about  is  tuning  lures. 
Some  crankbaits  are  tuned  by  the  manu- 


facturer. Many  are  not,  though,  and  even 
the  factory-tuned  lures  often  do  not  per- 
form as  I prefer.  Generally,  crankbaits 
should  be  tuned  according  to  instructions 
provided  by  the  manufacturer.  In  any 
case,  tuning  risks  destroying  the  lure.  But 
then,  a lure  that  does  not  perform  just 
wastes  space  in  the  tackle  box. 

In  the  absence  of  tuning  instructions,  I 
tune  lures  with  screw-type  line  eyes  by 
turning  the  screws,  and  lures  with  wire-line 
eyes  by  bending  the  eyes.  After  tuning,  I 
glue  the  screw  eyes  in  place.  The  relatively 
frail  wire  eyes,  which  I prefer,  must  occa- 
sionally be  retuned.  Needle-nose  pliers  are 
always  a part  of  my  fishing  gear  to  per- 
form the  tuning  chores.  Some  anglers  tune 
lures  by  shaving  the  diving  lips.  I do  not 
mess  with  this. 

The  usual  objective  of  tuning  crankbaits 
is  to  get  the  lure  to  run  straight.  But  a 
smallmouth  bass  angler  often  needs  a 
crankbait  that  is  tuned  to  run  to  one  side 
or  the  other. 

A smallmouth  bass  angler  sometimes 
retrieves  a crankbait  across  a current.  A 
crankbait  tuned  to  run  straight  will  be 
swept  downcurrent.  It  will  tilt  sideways, 
with  the  belly  of  the  lure  pointing  down- 
current  and  the  back  pointing  upcurrent. 
The  crankbait  cannot  dive  as  it  should 
when  it  runs  in  such  a position. 

In  my  tackle  box  are  a few  crankbaits 
marked  either  R or  L with  a permanent 
marker.  The  R crankbaits  run  to  my  right, 
while  the  L crankbaits  run  to  my  left. 
Accordingly,  I use  the  Rs  when  the  current 
comes  from  the  right  to  left,  and  the 
Ls  when  the  current  comes  from  left  to 
right.  These  lures  are  also  useful  when  re- 
trieving along  overhanging  banks  such  as 
the  stone  sides  at  Raystown  or  the  high 
walls  at  Kinzua. 

Detuned  crankbaits,  unfinished  knots — 
getting  better  at  this  game  of  crankbaiting 
for  smallmouth  bass  sounds  a lot  like  get- 
ting worse  at  it! 

What  we  have  really  been  discussing  is 
opening  the  mind.  This  might  require 
“unlearning”  some  things,  or  at  least  real- 
izing that  there  are  few  firm  rules  in  this 
game.  The  one  thing  we  don’t  have  any 
control  over,  and  hopefully  never  will,  is 
the  smallmouth  bass  themselves.  We  are 
dealing  with  a critter  whose  intelligence 
might  be  closer  to  a tree  than  to  our  own. 
Still,  they  are  individuals.  There  is  no 
equation  that  makes  for  sure  success,  no 
set  of  rules  that  ensures  victory.  Still,  after 
reading  these  tips  you  might  be  a few  steps 
closer  to  mastering  the  game. 


10  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mike  Bleech 


Sherri  Akens 


The  1988 

Pennsylvania  State  Envirothon 


by  Sherri  Akens 

Take  a group  of  approximately  200  high 
school  students  in  grades  9-12,  a number 
of  professional  conservationists  from  sev- 
eral local,  state  and  federal  agencies,  add  a 
state  park  in  central  Pennsylvania  and 
what  do  you  get?  The  1988  Pennsylvania 
State  Envirothon. 

The  1988  Envirothon,  sponsored  by  the 
Commonwealth’s  county  conservation  dis- 
tricts, with  the  help  of  several  cooperating 
agencies  and  generous  individuals,  was 
held  in  Mifflin  County  at  Reeds  Gap  State 
Park  this  past  June  24  and  25. 

This  was  the  fifth  year  for  Pennsylva- 
nia’s state  regional  competition,  held  to 
enhance  the  student’s  enthusiasm  for  the 
natural  environment  through  competitive 
events.  The  first  Envirothon,  then  referred 
to  as  the  Enviro-Olympics,  was  held  in 
1984  with  six  counties  participating.  Over 
the  years  participation  has  increased,  with 
36  counties  making  up  six  regions. 

The  first  day  of  the  Envirothon  con- 
sisted of  a variety  of  “break-the-ice”  ac- 
tivities, including  an  orienteering  course 
and  an  educational  program  on  bats.  The 
actual  competition  was  held  on  June  25, 
and  ran  from  8 in  the  morning  until  6 that 
night.  The  day  consisted  of  the  individual 
teams  going  through  five  testing  stations, 
followed  by  an  awards  ceremony  and 
awards  reception.  Reeds  Gap  was  also  cel- 
ebrating its  golden  anniversary,  so  com- 
mendation activities  took  up  the  second 
half  of  the  day. 

An  orientation  session  began  each 
round  of  testing  to  familiarize  the  students 
and  their  advisors  with  each  station’s  pro- 
cedures. The  student  teams,  made  up  of 
six  members  plus  alternates,  then  had  30 
minutes  to  complete  the  testing  at  each  of 
the  five  stations. 

The  stations  covered  a wide  range  of 
outdoor  topics.  The  aquatic  resources  sta- 
tion was  supervised  by  the  Fish  Commis- 
sion. 

Each  station’s  testing  consisted  of  writ- 
ten tests  that  required  considerable  out- 
door awareness  and  knowledge. 

The  Fish  Commission’s  test  came  in  five 
sections,  according  to  Steve  Ulsh,  informa- 
tion specialist  in  the  Commission’s  Bureau 


of  Education  and  Information.  The  sec- 
tions covered  the  major  responsibilities  in 
the  natural  areas  of  aquatics. 

“The  test  was  made  to  be  comprehen- 
sive,” Ulsh  said,  “and  consisted  of  ques- 
tions covering  fish,  reptiles,  amphibians, 
aquatic  insects,  watercourse  awareness, 
law  enforcement,  the  agency’s  operation 
and  environmental  concerns. 

The  aquatic  station  used  models,  pre- 
served specimens,  pictures  and  the  local 
creek,  Honey  Creek,  which  runs  through 
the  park  itself,  for  its  testing  program. 

A perfect  score  at  each  station  consisted 
of  100  points.  The  overall  high  score  was 
500  points  total. 

After  all  the  scores  were  tallied,  first 
place  went  to  Schuylkill  County’s  Blue 
Mountain  High  School.  This  team  of  en- 
thusiastic outdoorsmen  came  up  with  418 
out  of  500  possible  points,  obtaining  the 
highest  score,  92  points  out  of  100,  in  cur- 
rent issues.  Second  place  went  to  West- 
moreland County  with  a score  of  417.5 
and  a high  score  of  91  in  aquatics;  and 
third  place  went  to  Lebanon  County  with 
a score  of  405  and  a high  score  of  88  also 
in  current  issues. 

Department  of  Environmental  Re- 
sources Secretary  Arthur  Davis  presented 
each  team  with  its  respective  plaque.  All 


The  first  place  team  from  Blue  Mountain 
High  School.  Front  row  (R-L)  DER 
Secretary  Arthur  Davis;  Christell  Berger; 
Karen  Boltz;  Brandie  Searle.  Back  row 
(R-L)  Matt  Walters;  Richard  Eckert; 

Chris  Brommer;  Team  Advisor  Glenn 
Luckenbill 

teams  taking  part  in  the  competition  were 
presented  with  certificates  of  participa- 
tion and  hats  with  the  Envirothon  logo 
on  them. 

According  to  Envirothon  Steering  Com- 
mittee chairperson  Carolyn  Hollenshead, 
a small  national  Envirothon  is  in  the  plan- 
ning stages  this  fall.  As  of  now,  there  are 
three  states  showing  serious  interest  in  a 
national  competition  and  she  hopes  that 
there  will  be  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
states  participating  in  the  nationals  and 
that  there  will  be  continued  growth  in  the 
number  of  counties  taking  part  in  both 
the  state  and  regional  competitions. 

For  more  information  on  how  your  area 
high  school  can  become  involved  in  this 
important  environmental  activity,  please 
contact:  Carolyn  Hollenshead,  En- 
virothon Steering  Committee,  Fulton 
County  Soil  Conservation  District,  106 
Lincoln  Way  West,  McConnellsburg,  PA 
17233,  or  call  717-485-3547.  “ fET] 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  11 


when  my  son  and  I first  fished  from  a boat,  we  always  wore  our 
PFDs.  We  still  do.  He  dons  his  lifejacket  now  as  if  it  were  a 
second  skin,  and  when  he  boards  our  boat,  wearing  his  PFD  is  as 
natural  and  routine  as  wearing  clothes. 

Cultivate  the  same  feelings  in  a youngster  when  you  first  fish 
with  the  child  from  a boat.  Teach  safety  so  that  the  child  accepts  it 
as  if  it  were  second  nature.  Be  sure  also  to  set  a good  example. 
You  wear  a PFD,  too. 

You  and  all  those  aboard  your  boat  should  get  into  this  habit 
because  swimming  skills  can  help  in  an  emergency,  but  alone 
they  leave  you  unprepared  and  vulnerable,  and  that  goes  for 
strong,  adult  swimmers  as  well  as  kids,  no  matter  how  confidently 
they  swim. 

Make  sure  that  the  youngster’s  PFD  fits  properly  and  is  the 
correct  size.  It  should  fit  snugly.  You  might  want  to  have  the  child 


by  Art  Michaels 


My  son’s  first  few  fishing  trips  four 
years  ago  consisted  of  forays  to  a local 
bluegill  pond  where  he’d  haul  in  fish 
after  fish.  He  giggled  gleefully  with 
each  fish  he’d  catch,  and  I relished  see- 
ing him  so  enthralled.  But  the  novelty 
of  the  initial  trips  faded  quickly  during 
that  first  season.  My  son  became  bored 
after  a few  easy  bluegill  trips,  even  with 
landing  sunfish  after  sunfish. 

I realized  then  that  the  fishing  excur- 
sions after  the  first  few  are  the  ones 
that  lead  kids  to  becoming  lifelong  an- 
glers, conservationists  and  safe,  skilled 
boaters.  After  the  first  few  successful 
trips  when  the  newness  had  worn,  1 had 
the  chance  to  let  the  same  varied  fishing 
and  boating  challenges  that  beckon  me 
get  to  my  child.  In  my  family’s  case, 
this  meant  that  fishing  from  a boat 
would  come  next. 

Consider  how  I took  advantage  of 
this  opportunity,  and  think  about  how 
you  could  help  a youngster  meet  new 
fishing  and  boating  challenges  after  the 
first  few  beginning  experiences. 

Like  any  school  subject,  new  activi- 
ties build  on  lessons  already  learned. 
As  soon  as  my  son  had  several  bluegill 
trips  in  his  back  pocket,  he  was  ready  to 
progress.  My  son  was  four  years  old 
when  I introduced  him  to  more  varied 
fishing. 


Family  boat  trip 

Some  kids,  like  my  son,  are  ready  for  boat  fishing  after  they 
gain  a little  skill  with  their  fishing  tackle  and  with  catching  fish 
from  shore.  These  kids  graduate  level  by  level  in  their  angling 
experience.  My  son  handled  the  new  challenges  of  boat  fishing 
well  because  he  already  knew  how  to  use  his  rod  and  red.  He  was 
prepared  to  move  to  a more  demanding  kind  of  fishing. 

What’s  more,  some  children  who  see  you  taking  on  more  com- 
plicated angling  challenges  may  want  you  to  take  them  along.  My 
son  asked  to  go  fishing  with  me  and  his  grandfather  in  the  family 
boat.  That’s  another  way  I knew  that  my  son  was  itching  for  a 
new  fishing  challenge. 

Boating  with  a youngster  is  also  an  opportunity  to  teach  the 
child  safe  boating  practices  right  from  the  start.  For  instance, 


When  Children  Graduate  to 

Fishing  from  a Boat 


12  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Art  Michaels 


test  out  the  PFD  under  proper  supervision  in  the  reasonably  safe 
confines  of  a swimming  pool.  In  this  way  the  youngster  learns 
what  it  feels  like  to  wear  a PFD  in  the  water,  and  the  child  can 
learn  how  the  PFD  works — what  it  does  and  what  it  doesn’t  do. 

Of  course,  you  do  the  same  right  there  with  the  child  in 
the  pool. 

Generally  speaking,  I tried  to  pick  boating  trips  during  which 
we’d  have  the  mildest  boating  conditions.  In  this  way  we  could 
concentrate  on  my  son’s  learning  new  fishing  skills  while  we  took 
the  boating  aspects  more  leisurely  in  stride. 

If  you  take  a child  fishing  in  bad  weather,  which  for  the  most 
part  means  unmanageable  wave  heights,  high  wind  and  pitch- 
pouring rain,  you  could  sour  the  child  to  Fishing  from  a boat  for  a 
long  time  if  not  altogether. 

Taking  one  fishing  challenge  at  a time  in  my  boat  with  my  son 
was  also  the  right  move.  Overwhelming  him  with  new  opportun- 
ities could  have  accomplished  what  I didn’t  want.  I could 
have  frightened  or  confused  him  and  put  him  off  to  fishing  and 
boating. 

Nevertheless,  my  son  relished  rocking  and  thumping  across 
wakes  at  full  throttle,  a quality  in  him  that  surprised  me.  Still, 
rough  water  combined  with  a roaring  engine  and  rocketing  boat 
can  frighten  some  children.  For  this  reason  keep  a sharp  eye  on  the 
weather  and  water  conditions,  and  pick  your  boat  fishing  trips 
prudently.  Just  use  good  judgment  here  as  you  would  for  any 
boating  excursion,  but  pick  those  special  days  as  mild  as  they 
come.  The  “advanced”  lessons  of  fishing  in  bad  weather  and 
negotiating  rough  water  can  come  later. 

Using  good  judgment  about  whether  or  not  to  boat  is  a valu- 
able lesson  for  the  child.  Let  the  youngster  participate  in  making 
the  decision  while  you  spell  out  all  the  weather  and  water  condi- 
tions and  how  they’ll  affect  your  trip. 

Child  boat  operator 

When  my  son  first  fished  in  my  boat,  he  wanted  to  steer  the 
craft.  I let  him.  My  father  sat  behind  the  wheel  of  my  16-foot 
center  console  and  my  son  sat  on  his  lap.  While  the  boat  moved  at 
a slow,  no- wake  speed,  my  son  grasped  the  wheel  with  both  hands 
and  steered  the  boat  for  a while.  My  father  controlled  the  boat, 
but  my  son  felt  what  it  was  like  to  operate  the  craft,  guiding  its 
forward  progress  and  making  easy,  slow  turns. 

When  you  teach  a child  to  fish  in  a boat,  you’ll  want  to  antici- 
pate this  youngster’s  rite — operating  the  boat — and  figure  out 
before  the  trip  how  you’re  going  to  handle  it.  Count  on  it 
coming  up. 

The  fishing  part  of  the  trip,  the  main  event,  also  required  plan- 
ning. My  son  was  an  old  hand  at  hooking  and  bringing  in  blue- 
gills  from  a pond,  so  the  next  step  to  which  I hoped  he’d  graduate 
was  to  catch  bigger  fish.  That’s  why  heading  the  lineup  that  year 
were  boat  trips  for  just  about  anything  you  or  I might  fish  for — 
catfish,  crappies,  American  shad,  carp,  walleye  and  bass. 

A shad  fishing  trip  is  one  good  choice.  Pick  a day  when  the 
Delaware  River  flow  is  near  normal.  The  boating  conditions  will 
be  ideal,  and  catching  shad  is  a thrill  for  anyone.  Try  to  choose 
places  where  the  run  seems  to  peak.  You’re  lucky  if  you  hit  the 
Delaware  when  a slug  of  shad  is  coming  through.  You  and  the 
child  will  then  have  fast  action  with  big,  hard-fighting  fish. 

The  only  problem  is  the  waiting,  but  that’s  part  of  any  fishing 
you’d  choose.  In  any  case,  you  can’t  guarantee  the  child’s  hooking 
up  quickly,  so  when  you  plan  a trip,  take  into  consideration  the 
youngster’s  readiness  to  wait  for  a bite. 

I anticipated  the  problem  of  waiting  for  a shad  to  bite  by  bring- 


ing along  a few  of  my  son’s  coloring  books,  his  pen  set  and  a 
notebook  filled  with  blank  paper.  We  use  these  same  items  on 
long-distance  car  trips  to  keep  him  from  becoming  bored. 

Crappie  fishing  trips  are  also  good  choices.  The  mild  boat- 
ing conditions  are  a plus,  and  if  you  find  a school  of  willing 
slab-sides,  you’ll  enjoy  good  action  with  fish  that  are  bigger  than 
bluegjlls. 

No  one  said  that  a Lake  Erie  offshore  trip  wouldn’t  be  right, 
even  for  a youngster’s  first  trip,  but  you  have  to  consider  the 
child  when  you  make  this  decision.  Wave  heights  of  34  feet  are 
common  offshore  in  decent  weather,  and  even  a boat  of  about 
20-28  feet,  such  as  a charter  boat,  gets  rocked  around  in  these 
conditions. 

Some  kids  will  do  just  fine  their  first  time  out  with  little  prepa- 
ration, rough  seas  and  all.  Others  will  be  afraid,  even  with  elab- 
orate planning,  and  as  a result  may  not  want  to  give  you  a 
second  chance. 

Seasickness 

You  may  also  have  to  deal  with  a child’s  seasickness  if  you 
decide  on  a big- water  trip.  Before  you  consider  administering  sea- 
sickness remedies  to  a youngster,  consult  the  child’s  pediatrician. 
Some  medicines  we  adults  take,  like  Bonine  or  Transderm-V  (the 
patch  that  goes  behind  the  ear),  are  not  available  in  children’s 
doses.  Dramamine,  though,  does  list  a dosage  for  children.  Still, 
talk  to  the  child’s  pediatrician  first  about  giving  kids  seasickness 
medicine. 

When  you  take  that  big-water  trip,  try  to  go  with  angling 
friends  who  don’t  get  sick,  and  who  will  be  understanding  and 
sympathetic  if  the  child  does  get  seasick.  Know  your  own  limits  in 
this  area,  too,  before  you  attempt  to  show  a youngster  these  kinds 
of  big- water  boating  and  fishing  challenges. 

It’s  often  hard  to  tell  whether  a child  will  become  seasick  if  the 
youngster  has  never  been  rocked  around  in  a boat.  It’s  best  to 
discover  the  child’s  predisposition  to  seasickness.  That’s  why  you 
may  want  to  progress  slowly  to  a Lake  Erie  trip,  if  you  like  that 
kind  of  angling.  For  example,  try  a few  boat  trips  on  protected 
water  first,  then  a few  bigger-water  trips,  and  then  maybe  a 
Presque  Isle  Bay  trip  or  an  excursion  in  Lake  Erie  to  a reasonably 
close,  inshore  spot. 

You  have  to  play  a lot  of  this  by  ear.  That’s  why  considering  the 
possibilities  and  planning  are  valuable  to  making  those  trips  a 
success.  Remember  also  that  some  kids  need  to  graduate  one  step 
at  a time  to  increasingly  more  demanding  fishing  and  boating 
excursions.  When  in  doubt,  proceed  slowly. 

Finally,  we  consider  the  benefits  of  fishing  trips  much  more 
than  we  think  about  the  drawbacks.  We  remember  the  good  times 
more  than  the  bad.  So  when  you  plan  a trip,  keep  things  safe  and 
go  where  you’ll  catch  fish,  and  you’re  right  on  track  for  success 
and  fun. 

That  reminds  me  of  a friend  who  took  his  6-year-old  daughter 
shad  fishing  for  the  first  time  four  years  ago.  She  was  already  an 
old  hand  at  fooling  bluegjlls  from  ponds  and  stocked  trout  from 
streams.  That  day  no  one  in  the  party  of  three  boats  caught  any- 
thing except  for  her.  She  fought  and  landed  two  6-pound  roe  shad 
(her  father  used  up  two  rolls  of  film  on  each  event). 

That’s  luck,  but  it’s  also  planned,  measured  success. 

Art  Michaels  is  editor  of  Pennsylvania  Angler  and  Boat  Penn- 
sylvania. He  fishes  in  his  boat  most  frequently  with  his  wife, 
their  4-year-old  daughter  and  7-year-old  son. 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


This  simple  rig  can  help  you  score  more. 


The  Ultimate 

by  Sam  Everett 

I learned  how  to  make  a super  bottom  rig  from  a guy  who  relished 
torturing  other  anglers.  He’d  fish  near  others  and  catch  more  and 
bigger  fish  than  they  did.  He  delighted  in  their  torment  of  not 
knowing  how  to  better  their  scores.  That  wide  grin  accompanied 
each  big  fish  he  hoisted  into  the  boat  or  hauled  up  onto  the  shore. 

Son  of  a gun.  I stopped  fishing  once  and  waited  until  he  was 
ready  to  pack  up  his  tackle.  Then  I saw  his  bottom-fishing  success 
secret.  He  offered  up  bait  with  a monofilament  rig  made  only 
with  simple  knots.  I had  no  brass  hardware  and  other  metal  con- 
nectors that  turned  fish  off. 

“So  that’s  how  you  do  it,”  1 said,  as  if  1 knew  more  than  I did. 

“Heh,  heh,”  he  chuckled,  taking  my  bait.  “A  dropper  loop 
and  a Palomar  knot  are  the  secret  to  making  this  rig,”  he  said.  He 
held  one  up  for  my  inspection.  “Can’t  be  beat  for  fooling  the  big 
ones.  It’s  strong,  and  it’s  all  mono.  The  fish  don’t  see  it  as  easily 
as  they  see  the  brass  and  metal  rigs  most  others  use.” 

I use  this  rig  a lot  with  my  6'/2-foot  spinning  rod  matched  with 
8-pound  mono,  and  I use  no  more  than  a half-ounce  sinker,  most 
often  a quarter-ounce  bank  sinker  or  bass-casting  sinker.  I use  size 
6-10  bronzed  baitholding  hooks,  such  as  a Mustad  92641,  Eagle 
Claw  L 181  or  a VMC  9292. 

This  rig  is  great  for  any  fish  you  want  to  tempt  on  the  bottom. 
Here’s  how  to  make  it. 

ITie  a dropper  loop  about  18  inches  from  the  end  of  your  line. 

If  you  like  a high-low  rig,  or  if  you  just  want  to  put  more  than 
one  baited  hook  out,  tie  on  one  more  dropper  loop  about  8-12 
inches  above  the  first  one.  Study  the  diagrams  of  how  to  tie  a 
dropper  loop  so  you  can  tie  this  knot. 

Leave  about  a foot  or  so  of  line  at  the  end.  It  might  take 
practice  to  place  the  dropper  loops  right  so  that  you  have  this  extra 
line  on  the  end. 

Tie  a surgeon’s  end  loop  at  the  end  of  your  line,  and  attach  a 
sinker  there  by  way  of  a Palomar  knot.  Check  out  the  dia- 
grams on  how  to  tie  these  knots. 

You  judge  the  size  of  the  sinker  you  need  by  the  kind  of  fishing 
you’re  doing. 

Attach  plain  hooks  to  the  dropper  loops  by  way  of  Palomar 
knots.  You  decide  what  size  hooks  you  need.  You  could  also 
knot  snelled  hooks  to  the  loops,  depending  on  how  much  leader 
you  want  between  the  hooks  and  the  dropper  loops. 

Practice  tying  the  rig  now  so  that  this  season  you  can  whip  it 
up  fast.  Try  tying  the  knots  in  clothesline  first,  then  use  60-pound 
or  80-pound  mono,  and  then  try  the  thin  monofilament  you 
actually  use.  [71] 

Palomar  knot 

A.  Double  the  line  and  send  it  through  the  hook  eye. 

B.  Hold  the  hook  shank  and  eye  in  one  hand,  and  tie  an 
overhand  knot  with  the  other  hand. 

C.  Pull  the  hook  through  the  loop  formed  by  the  overhand 
knot. 

D.  Hold  the  line  and  hook  and  draw  up  the  knot  snugly  at  the 
hook  eye.  Will  firmly  at  the  running  line  and  hook,  and  cut 
off  the  excess. 


Bottom  Rig 


14 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration — George  Lavanish;  graphic — Ted  Walre ; photo — Art  Michaels 


Art  Michaels 


The  ultimate  bottom  rig  helps  you  score  more  than  other  rigs  because  it’s  made  only 
with  monofilament  line,  hooks  and  a sinker.  There  are  no  beads,  brass  parts  or  other 
flashy  additions  to  alert  fish,  so  your  quarry  is  more  likely  to  take  your  bait. 


A. 


Surgeon’s  end  loop 

A.  Double  the  end  of  the  line  and  make 
an  overhand  knot  in  the  doubled 
line. 

B.  Take  the  loop  end  back  again 
through  the  small  loop  formed  by  the 
overhand  knot. 

C.  Hold  the  tag  end  and  standing  part 
of  the  line  in  one  hand  and  pull  the 
loop  end  tight  with  your  other  hand. 
Snip  the  tag  end. 


Dropper  loop  knot 

A.  Tie  an  overhand  loop  in  the  line  and 
then  make  about  10  more  consecutive 
overhand  loops. 

B.  Pinch  apart  a loop  in  the  middle  of 
the  overhand  turns.  Bring  the  large 
loop  through  the  turns. 

C.  Hold  the  loop  in  the  overhand  turns 
and  pull  the  line  ends  tight.  Let  the 
turns  draw  tightly  around  the  loop. 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  15 


Habitat  Improvement 
for  the  Future 


by  Julie  Lalo 


These  tire  towers  (above)  were  placed  in  Colyer  Lake,  Centre 
County.  They  attract  fish,  both  baitfish  and  gamefish,  in  an 
otherwise  featureless  part  of  the  waterway.  Adopt-a-Stream  projects 
like  these  are  possible  when  impoundments  are  drained,  although 
that’s  not  a prerequisite  for  placing  lake  structures.  At  right,  Adopt- 
a-Stream  personnel  and  sportsmen  team  up  to  complete  projects. 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Consider  yourself  a brown  trout.  You’re 
looking  for  cover — a protected  hole  where 
the  chilly  running  water  is  stilled  just 
slightly.  The  exposed  roots  of  a streamside 
sycamore  or  an  undercut  bank  would  pro- 
vide natural  refuge. 

You  don’t  find  the  sycamore,  but  you 
swim  into  a hole  underneath  the  rushing 
water  of  a little  waterfall.  It’s  deep  and  it’s 
cold.  You’ve  found  a place  to  call  home. 

More  than  likely,  the  waterfall  that  dug 
out  that  perfect  hiding  hole  didn’t  “just 
happen”  to  be  there.  In  fact,  it’s  probably 
manmade,  one  of  the  thousands  of  struc- 
tures designed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission’s  habitat  improvement  spe- 
cialists for  the  express  purpose  of  attract- 
ing trout. 

That  a brown  trout  should  find  and  use 
the  waterfall-dug  hole  is  a measure  of  the 
success  of  the  Commission’s  habitat  im- 
provement program,  says  Dave  Houser, 
chief  of  the  Commission’s  Adopt-a- 
Stream  Section.  “When  we  build  a device 
and  it  results  in  improved  fisheries,  we 
know  we’ve  succeeded,”  Houser  says. 

Houser,  along  with  Karl  Lutz,  eastern 


area  coordinator,  and  two  temporary  em- 
ployees, supervised  the  building  of  100 
new  devices  this  past  summer,  probably 
their  biggest  year  yet.  On  streams,  the  crew 
built  jack  dams,  channel  blocks  and  mud 
sills — tools  to  trick  the  water  into  creating 
two  things  that  trout  love:  deep,  cold  wa- 
ter and  cover.  On  the  state’s  lakes,  fish  at- 
traction structures  do  just  what  the  name 
implies. 

“Huck  Finn”  approach 

This  work  isn’t  unique  to  Pennsylvania. 
Many  other  state  fish  agencies  throughout 
the  country  know  about  the  benefits  of 
habitat  enhancement.  What  makes  Penn- 
sylvania special,  however,  is  the  “Huck 
Finn”  method  of  encouraging  volunteer 
sportsmen  to  take  a hand  at  pounding  the 
sledgehammer  or  driving  in  underwater 
nails.  Ever  since  1971,  when  the  program 
began  in  its  current  state,  these  devices 
were  almost  never  built  by  Fish  Commis- 
sion crews  alone.  Groups  all  over  the  state 
do  the  labor  at  their  own  request. 

According  to  Houser  and  Lutz,  work- 
ing with  the  state’s  sportsmen,  community 
groups  and  youth  clubs  serves  two  pur- 
poses. It  gets  the  job  done  at  the  same 
time  that  it  teaches  the  volunteers  some- 
thing about  stream  management  and  gives 
them  a proprietary  interest  in  their  favorite 
fishing  spots. 

“That’s  why  our  habitat  work  is  half 
public  relations,  half  biologically  ori- 
ented,” says  Houser.  “What  we’re  here 
for  is  education,  and  it  starts  the  first  day 
we  meet  with  the  volunteers.  We  want  to 
educate  them  on  why  we’re  building  the 


Above,  volunteers  in  community 
groups  and  youth  groups  admire  their 
stream  handiwork. 


device,  not  just  how  to  do  it.” 

Houser  and  Lutz  do  more  than  super- 
vise device-building.  Adopt -a-St ream  also 
offers  several  other  activism  programs. 
Through  AAS,  garden  clubs,  community 
recreation  programs  and  even  groups  of 
friends  can  sponsor  litter  control,  water 
quality  monitoring,  stocking  assistance 
and  landowner-relations  improvement  ac- 
tivities along  local  waterways. 

“It’s  positive  reinforcement,  and  it 
works,”  says  Gary  Oechler,  chairman  of 
stream  improvement  for  the  Loyalsock 
Men’s  Club  in  Lycoming  County.  “As 
long  as  I’m  a member  of  this  club,  we’ll 
be  involved  in  Adopt-a-Stream  every 
year,”  he  says.  The  club  has  worked  on 
Little  Bear  Creek  for  the  past  10  years. 

Structure-building 

Certainly,  the  showcase  of  the  program 
is  in  the  enhancement  devices,  and  the 
most  spectacular  is  a low-flow  channel 
structure,  or  as  it’s  commonly  known,  a 
jack  dam. 

Built  with  plank  flooring,  logs,  rocks 
and  plastic  sheeting,  a jack  dam  lifts  the 
water  just  high  enough  to  create  a little 
waterfall  that  almost  immediately  begins 
to  chew  out  the  ground  underneath.  The 
completed  job  doesn’t  leave  much  of  a 
scar.  In  fact,  it  looks  pretty  natural  right 
from  the  start.  A few  years  of  regrowth 
and  the  stains  of  time,  and  you  could  walk 
right  by  it  and  not  even  see  it,  thanks  to 
the  careful  construction  and  the  right  blue- 
prints. 

“We  want  it  to  be  that  you  can  come 
back  in  a few  years  and  if  you  didn’t  know 
the  device  was  there,  you  wouldn’t  see  it  as 
manmade.  You’d  say,  ‘Look  how  that  log 
fell  in  there,  and  look  at  the  nice  hole  it 
made,”’  Houser  says. 

That  same  goal  applies  to  all  the  de- 
vices. Deflectors — triangular  extensions 
into  a creek — are  designed  specifically  to 
meet  the  needs  of  a stream,  and  feature 
variations  of  rock  or  log  construction,  ei- 
ther singly  or  in  pairs.  Their  main  func- 
tions are  to  protect  an  eroding  bank,  and 
change,  or  deflect,  the  direction  of  a 
stream’s  flow.  A strategically  placed  pair 
can  put  a curve  in  water  that  flowed  basi- 
cally straight  before,  while  it  carves  out 
deep  holes  for  trout. 

When  a stream  splits  into  two  channels, 
turning  both  into  marginal  habitat  with 
the  threat  of  both  drying  up  during  low 
water,  the  Commission  suggested  a chan- 
nel block.  By  way  of  rocks  and  logs  a 
channel  block  shuts  off  the  flow  of  the 
less  beneficial  channel. 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


17 


Above,  sportsmen  build  channel  blocks  on  Quittapahilla  Creek  in 
Lebanon  County.  When  a stream  splits  into  two  channels,  turning 
both  into  marginal  habitat  with  the  threat  of  both  drying  up  during 
low  water,  channel  blocks  like  these  are  an  effective  remedy.  A 
channel  block  shuts  off  the  flow  to  the  less  beneficial  channel. 
Devices  are  planned  and  built  so  that  after  a time,  the  device  looks 

natural,  hardly  manmade  at  all. 


If  serious  bank  erosion  needs  to  be  cor- 
rected, Houser  studies  the  cause.  If  it’s 
cattle  grazing,  he  works  with  the  farmer, 
suggesting  that  the  cattleman  allow  sports- 
men to  fence  the  stream  corridor.  If  it’s 
from  an  unvegetated  bank,  he  might  opt 
for  a mud  sill— a log,  plank  and  rock  de- 
vice that  serves  as  an  alternative  to  the  se- 
curity of  green  growth  while  acting  as  a 
stable,  artificial  undercut  bank. 

Houser  points  to  Falling  Spring  Creek, 
in  Franklin  County,  as  a perfect  example. 
“It  was  degraded  by  cattle-grazing,  and  al- 
though the  water  quality  was  excellent, 
there  were  very  few  fish  in  it.”  The  Fish 
Commission  worked  with  the  landowner 
and  installed  a number  of  deflectors. 
“Now  it’s  one  of  the  finest  stretches  in  the 
state  for  rainbow  trout,”  he  says. 

If  a lake  lacks  adequate  cover,  Houser 
and  Lutz  work  with  the  sponsoring  sports- 
men to  install  fish  attraction  devices— 
bundles  of  brush  or  discarded  Christmas 
trees  weighted  and  dropped  into  the  lake 
to  serve  as  hiding  holes  and  create  an  eco- 
system from  zooplankton  to  the  top  of  the 
aquatic  food  chain. 

John  Waelchli,  of  Berks  County  Bass- 
masters  in  Berks  County,  knows  the  bene- 
fits of  fish  attraction  devices.  On 
1,200-acre  Blue  Marsh  Lake,  the  Bassmas- 
ters  and  the  Blue  Marsh  Bass  Club  have 
put  in  dozens  of  brush  piles.  “The  reports 
that  we’re  getting  are  that  smallmouth 
fishing  is  200  percent  better.  We  didn’t 
have  a tournament  there  for  three  years, 
because  there  weren’t  any  fish.  We  held 
our  first  last  September.” 


18  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Adopt-a-Stream  photos 


The  Commission 
arranges  for  the  proper 
permits,  a big  plus  in 
the  minds  of  many 
groups  familiar  with 
the  bureaucratic 
process,  and  supplies 
the  planning  and 
technical  assistance, 
working  on-site  with 
the  project 
coordinators. 


Art,  not  science 

The  Adopt-a-Stream  personnel  rely  on 
several  factors  when  determining  how  and 
when  to  use  the  devices.  “We  look  for  lo- 
cal input  from  the  sportsmen,  the  area 
fisheries  managers  and  the  waterways  con- 
servation officers,”  Lutz  says,  “and  even 
occasionally,  our  law  enforcement  people 
have  been  known  to  sling  a few  rocks  on  a 
work  day  now  and  then,  in  addition  to 
their  other  duties.” 

“I  consider  habitat  improvement  an  art, 
not  a science,”  Houser  says.  “It  takes  a 
trained  eye  to  know  first,  whether  a device 
is  needed,  and  then,  which  one  and  where 
it  should  go.  I think  it  comes  from  the 
heart  and  from  imagination.  I have  to 
paint  a picture  in  my  mind  to  imagine  the 
changes  that  we  can  make  on  a fishery. 
Other  people  may  use  a book,  but  we  have 
the  information  in  our  heads.” 

That  it  works  is  a question  best  put  to 
the  sportsmen  of  the  state.  Howard  Gus- 
tafson, national  vice  president  of  Trout 
Unlimited  for  the  Northeast  Region, 
knows  about  Skinner  Creek,  in  McKean 
County,  where  the  Seneca  Chapter  of  TU 
has  been  installing  devices  since  1985.  “We 
seem  to  get  better  natural  trout  reproduc- 
tion than  we  had  before.  We  have  a better 
stream  flow  and  pool/riffle  combination. 
Some  of  the  dead  areas  caused  by  beaver 
dams  and  the  natural  channelization 
caused  in  1972  when  Hurricane  Agnes 
went  through  now  offer  better  meandering 
and  better  flow,”  he  says. 

“We  have  no  slow  spots  so  sun  can  get 
at  the  water,  temperature  remains  cool, 


and  large,  deep  pools  are  beneficial  to 
trout  just  because  of  the  construction  of 
these  devices.  Three  of  them  put  in  last 
year  have  already  dug  holes  over  five  feet 
deep,”  he  adds. 

These  comments  are  echoed  all  over  the 
state.  Hokendauqua  Creek,  in  Northamp- 
ton County,  had  a stream  bottom  that  was 
nothing  but  mud  and  silt.  It  could  have 
been  dredged,  removing  the  symptoms  but 
not  the  cause.  Daniel  Mason,  of  Lappa- 
winzo  Fish  and  Game  Club,  says  the  AAS 
personnel  devised  a strategy  of  13  deflec- 
tors on  1,000  yards  of  stream,  and  now, 
“we’re  in  great  shape.” 

Volunteers  aren’t  only 
sportsmen 

Not  all  the  volunteers  are  members  of  a 
sportsmen’s  club,  although  the  lion’s  share 
of  the  work  is  done  by  anglers. 

Many,  such  as  the  TU  best  chapter  proj- 
ect winner  in  1987,  use  youths  to  help  in 
the  project  construction.  At  Skinner  Creek 
in  McKean  County,  six  local  Boy  Scout 
troops  attended  a one-day  camporee  that 
led  to  10  new  devices  built  and  a whole 
new  group  of  devotees  to  the  idea  of  habi- 
tat improvement. 

In  a number  of  counties,  including 
Wayne,  Cumberland,  Lancaster,  Butler, 
Pike  and  Potter,  students  at  each  annual 
county  conservation  school  provide  the 
backbone  for  building  many  new  devices 
while  learning  the  basics  of  aquatic  re- 
source management. 

In  Lycoming  County,  youths  “in  trou- 
ble” do  habitat  improvement  work  as  part 
of  their  community  service,  an  alternative 
to  juvenile  hall. 

The  program  even  brings  in  outsiders  to 
our  streams.  A Northern  Virginia  Trout 
Unlimited  chapter  works  a favored  Adams 
County  stream  in  cooperation  with  the  lo- 
cal Pennsylvania  TU  chapter. 

Various  conservation-oriented  clubs  in 
public  schools  also  find  Adopt-a-Stream  a 
popular  pastime,  a way  to  teach  while  hav- 
ing fun. 

Often,  the  county  conservation  district 
adopts  a stream  and  then  organizes  local 
support  groups  for  the  labor. 

One  of  the  most  unusual  volunteer 
groups  is  a senior  center  in  Franklin 
County— their  adoption  includes  litter 
pickup  programs  and  the  construction  of 
fence-crossing  devices  for  easier  access  to 
the  stream. 

Not  all  these  projects  are  volunteer,  ei- 
ther. For  example,  Indiana  County  used 
Pennsylvania  Conservation  Corps  funding 


to  subsidize  a youth  crew  to  do  habitat  im- 
provement work.  Clinton  County  also 
hired  its  ow'n  youth  crew  to  do  similar 
summer-long  projects. 

The  bottom  line  is  that  “Our  project 
ideas  are  limited  only  by  imagination,” 
says  Lutz.  “Anything  that  provides  im- 
provement to  a particular  stretch  of  stream 
is  important.” 

Guidelines 

Houser  and  Lutz  say  that  the  good 
working  relationship  between  citizens  and 
the  Commission  comes  from  the  sharing 
of  responsibility.  “The  Commission  and 
the  sponsoring  group  are  actually  partners 
at  the  site.  Our  50  percent  is  in  providing 
some  materials,  such  as  planking,  nails 
and  reinforcing  rod  pins.  Their  50  percent 
is  in  log,  stone  and  labor.  Up  to  $500  in 
materials  may  be  granted  to  one  coopera- 
tor during  any  one  year,”  Houser  says. 
Many  groups  are  able  to  obtain  their  por- 
tion of  the  materials  through  donations 
from  local  concerns. 

The  Commission  arranges  for  the 
proper  permits,  a big  plus  in  the  minds  of 
many  groups  familiar  with  the  bureau- 
cratic process,  and  supplies  the  planning 
and  technical  assistance,  working  on-site 
with  the  project  cooperators. 

The  water  must  be  on  public  land,  or  if 
it’s  on  private  property,  the  owner  must 
consent  to  allow  a public  fishing  access  for 
10  years  so  the  state’s  fishermen  can  use  it. 

“They  don’t  have  to  advertise  this,  and 
they’re  not  signing  away  their  property,” 
Houser  says.  “They’re  just  allowing  the 
stream  to  be  fished.  It’s  just  so  they  won’t 
put  up  a posted  sign.  After  all,  we  are 
spending  anglers’  dollars  to  do  this  work.” 

“We  need  the  cooperation  of  sportsmen 
to  ensure  that  this  program  works,” 
Houser  says.  “The  number  of  projects  has 
just  boomed  in  the  last  three  years,  and  we 
believe  our  supervision  is  essential  to  good 
enhancement  device  construction.”  With- 
out it,  a device  could  actually  backfire,  ru- 
ining the  fishery  in  a stream  instead  of 
benefiting  it. 

“It’s  why  we  work  with  a group,  to  ed- 
ucate and  train  them  in  w'hat  we  hope  are 
good  fish  habitat  improvement  tech- 
niques,” Houser  says.  “Because  to  do  it 
well,  you  have  to  do  it  right.” 

For  more  information  about  how  your 
group  can  adopt  a stream  to  build  devices, 
develop  litter  control  or  conduct  water  qual- 
ity monitoring,  write  to  Adopt-  a-Stream 
Section,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission, 
450  Robinson  Lane,  Bellefonte,  PA  16823. 
The  phone  number  is  814-359-5185.  | p*  j 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


Ike: 


Pennsylvania’s  Angling  President 


by  Mike  Sajna 


Pennsylvania  has  not  been  very  bountiful  or  fortunate  when  it 
comes  to  producing  presidents  of  the  United  States.  The  only  na- 
tive son  to  make  it  to  the  White  House  was  James  Buchanan  way 
back  in  the  1850s.  And  partially  because  of  his  deal-making  and 
weak  leadership,  the  boys  from  The  Citadel  fired  on  Fort  Sumter, 
and  Gettysburg  became  the  site  of  the  bloodiest  battle  ever  fought 
in  North  America. 

But  long  before  the  United  States  was  a nation,  starting  back 
when  Major  George  Washington  nearly  drowned  in  the  Allegheny 
River,  Pennsylvania  has  been  an  important  stopping-off  place  for 
presidents.  Most,  of  course,  came  in  search  of  votes,  but  several 
also  have  traveled  to  the  state  for  recreation  and  a little  relief  from 
the  “rigors”  of  government. 

Buchanan  actually  used  the  old  Bedford  Springs  Hotel  in 
Bedford  County  as  a “summer  White  House.”  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
fished  along  the  northern  tier  counties.  Grover  Cleveland,  Ben- 
jamin Harrison,  Teddy  Roosevelt  and  Calvin  Coolidge  all  made 
pilgrimages  to  the  Poconos,  and  more  recently,  Jimmy  Carter 
fished  the  famous  limestone  streams  of  central  Pennsylvania. 

Except  for  Buchanan,  however,  only  one  other  president  ever 
chose  to  call  Pennsylvania  home.  That  was  Dwight  David 
Eisenhower  when  he  bought,  and  then  later  retired  to,  a farm  on 
the  edge  of  the  Gettysburg  battlefield. 

Among  the  many  presidents  who  have  fished  in  Pennsylvania, 
Ike  was  clearly  one  of  the  most  accomplished. 

Despite  his  fame  with  a golf  club,  President  Eisenhower  was 
equally  devoted  to  the  rod  and  gun,  and  in  his  younger  years,  he 
was  a baseball  and  football  player.  As  a West  Point  cadet,  he  even 
played  against  the  immortal  Jim  Thorpe,  when  “the  greatest  ath- 
lete in  the  world”  ran  halfback  for  the  Carlisle  Indian  School. 

“Although  Eisenhower,  a linebacker,  and  teammate  Charles 
Benedict  succeeded  in  briefly  stopping  a Thorpe-led  drive  by  using 
a double-tackle  on  the  legendary  halfback,”  a 1984  issue  of  Over- 
view: The  Eisenhower  Foundation  Newsletter  reports,  “a  deft  ma- 
neuver by  Thorpe  in  a later  play  sent  the  two  West  Pointers 
crashing  headlong  into  each  other.  They  were  temporarily  stunned 
and  removed  from  the  game.  Carlisle  gave  West  Point  a 27  to  6 
drubbing.” 

As  an  angler,  Eisenhower  began  his  career  as  a boy  fishing  Mud 
Creek  and  the  Smoky  Hill  River  near  his  home  in  Abilene,  Kan- 
sas. When  he  was  supreme  commander  of  the  Allied  Expedition- 
ary Forces  in  Europe  during  World  War  II,  he  gained  a reputation 
as  a workaholic  who  had  to  be  ordered  by  his  superior,  General 
Gee  Marshall,  a Pennsylvanian  from  Fayette  County  who  also 
is  saic  rave  been  handy  with  a rod  and  reel,  to  occasionally  take 
off  ar,  «oon  or  a Sunday. 

Althk  ■?  never  adhered  to  those  orders  the  way  Marshall 
would  h d,  before  the  D-Day  invasion  he  did  calm  his 
nerves  win  t fishing  trip  in  England. 


Eisenhower’s  proud  of  this  Spruce  Creek  catch,  his  first  after 
becoming  president. 


After  he  became  president,  the  first  vacation  Eisenhower  took  was 
a long  weekend  at  State  College  in  May  1953.  Ike’s  younger 
brother,  Milton,  was  president  of  Penn  State  University  at  the 
time,  and  though  the  trip  included  discussions  on  a Latin- 
American  mission  Milton  was  involved  in,  the  two  brothers  wasted 
no  time  in  running  off  to  Spruce  Creek,  a stream  Jimmy  Carter 
never  could  seem  to  get  enough  of  when  he  was  president. 

“The  advance  word  was  that  brown  trout  weighing  in  excess 
of  three  pounds  were  being  taken  on  dry  flies  in  the  stream,  which 
was  restocked  in  March,”  reported  a story  in  The  New 
York  Times. 

“Soon  after  reaching  the  stream,  the  president  hooked  his  first 
fish  since  his  inauguration.  Before  the  day  was  over  he  landed 
more  than  20  trout,  but  released  all  except  five  of  the  biggest  ones. 

“Fishing  with  him,  in  addition  to  his  brother  and  Mr.  Harpster 
(owner  of  the  farm  where  the  group  was  fishing)  was  Professor 


20  Septembt  nnsylvania  Angler 


Eisenhower  Library 


George  Harvey  of  Penn  State,  a nationally  known  expert  on  fly 
casting.  From  Professor  Harvey  came  this  appraisal  of  the  presi- 
dential fishing  skill: 

“He  is  an  excellent  caster.” 

Harvey’s  answer  sounds  a bit  diplomatic,  but  other  news  stories 
from  the  1950s  picture  Eisenhower  as  possessing  a fair  portion  of 
skill  with  the  fly  tackle  and  trout  he  preferred.  They  mention  his 
catching  20  or  more  trout  in  a single  day,  almost  all  of  which  were 
returned  to  the  stream,  and  a scattering  of  three-  to  five-pound 
trophies,  as  well  as  a few  salmon  and  muskies  over  40  inches. 

And  some  of  those  stories  must  contain  a grain  of  truth.  For 
the  fishbowl  atmosphere  in  which  we  force  our  presidents  also 
resulted  in  stories  about  Ike  taking  a dunking,  dropping  his  rod  in 
the  water  and  sticking  himself  with  a hook,  indignities  the  average 
angler  is  allowed  to  suffer  in  private,  or  at  most  in  the  company  of 
a friend  or  two. 


Among  the  many  presidents  who  have  fished  in  Pennsylvania, 
Ike  was  clearly  one  of  the  most  accomplished. 


But  then  all  the  publicity  surrounding  presidents  sometimes  serves 
to  embarrass  them  for  good  reasons — like  the  time  Ike  exceeded 
his  limit.  Even  though  he  was  fishing  on  private  land,  in  a pri- 
vately stocked  stretch  of  stream,  the  story  became  front-page  news 
in  papers  across  the  country. 

“Mr.  Hagerty  (Press  Secretary  James  Hagerty),  asked  how 
many  fish  the  president  had  caught,  replied,  ‘The  limit.’  ” 

The  story  was  not  only  an  embarrassment  for  President 
Eisenhower.  He  remained  angry  about  it  for  weeks,  but  the  inci- 
dent served  as  a warning  on  the  importance  of  limits  to  anybody 
who  might  contemplate  breaking  them. 

Ike’s  frequent  getaway  trips  to  his  Gettysburg  farm,  where  he 
liked  to  fish  a small  pond  on  the  property,  and  Marsh  Creek, 
which  flows  through  a comer  of  the  farm,  sometimes  drew  criti- 
cism from  political  opponents  and  others  who  thought  he  should 
spend  all  his  time  in  Washington.  But  they  also  found  support  in  a 
variety  of  places. 

“ ...  up  where  the  water  comes  down  cold  with  melting  snow 
and  the  trout  are  sassy  and  pugnacious,  the  president  and  the  ex- 
president (Herbert  Hoover)  should  be  easy  in  their  minds  and 
sleep  well,”  one  New  York  Times  editorial  writer  once  stated. 

“In  such  surroundings  it  is  easy  to  believe  that  this  is  a good 
world — good,  that  is,  for  every  living  being  except  the  trout  that 
make  the  mistake  of  rising  to  Mr.  Eisenhower’s  and  Mr.  Hoover’s 
flies.  One  sympathizes  with  the  trout,  but  not  so  much  as  not  to 
wish  both  Mr.  Eisenhower  and  Mr.  Hoover  the  best  of  fishermen’s 
luck.  For  these  vacationers  may  the  good  smells  of  wood  smoke 
and  fish  frying  sweeten  the  mountain  air,”  the  writer  said. 

And  generally  speaking,  most  voters  must  have  approved.  They 
re-elected  Eisenhower  to  a second  term,  and  whenever  he  was 
fishing  in  public  waters,  they  flocked  to  see  him,  shout  support 
and  inquire  about  his  luck.  “I  like  Ike!”  was  a shout  heard  more 
than  once  while  Eisenhower  was  standing  knee-deep  in  a 
rushing  stream. 

Following  his  heart  attack  in  1955,  President  Eisenhower  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  his  days  of  tramping  along  rocky  trout  streams 
were  over.  Except  for  weekends  on  waters  at  his  farm  in  Gettys- 
burg, his  fishing  outings  became  few  and  far  between. 

But  not  even  those  quiet  hours  in  southcentral  Pennsylvania 
managed  to  escape  the  press.  A mosquito  bite  he  received  one 
evening  while  fishing  his  pond  was  photographed  and  sent  out  by 
the  wire  services  to  appear  in  the  nation’s  newspapers.  It  is  no 
wonder  President  Hoover  once  was  moved  to  write  about  fishing 
and  presidents: 

“I  have  discovered  the  reason  why  presidents  take  to  fishing,  the 
silent  sport.  It  is  generally  realized  and  accepted  that  prayer  is  the 
most  personal  of  all  human  relationships.  On  such  occasions 
as  that,  men  and  women  are  entitled  to  be  alone  and  undisturbed. 
Next  to  prayer,  fishing  is  the  most  personal  relationship  of  man 
and,  of  more  immediate  importance  than  that  fact  itself,  every- 
body concedes  that  the  fish  will  not  bite  in  the  presence  of 
the  public  and  press.  Fishing  seems  to  be  the  sole  avenue  left  to 
presidents  through  which  they  may  escape  to  their  own  thoughts 
and  may  live  in  their  own  imaginings  and  find  relief  from  the 
pneumatic  hammer  of  constant  personal  contacts.” 

Although  he  grew  up  and  learned  to  fish  in  the  Midwest,  Ike 
had  one  other  good  reason  for  pursuing  the  sport  during  his 
White  House  days  and  afterward:  He  lived  in  Pennsylvania.  [77] 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


Motoring  Skills  for 

by  Lou  Elkes 


Fishing  in  shallow  water  takes  a lot  of  fish, 
especially  early  in  the  morning  and  in  the 
evening  in  hot  weather  and  during  the  day 
in  the  spring  and  fall.  Still,  rocks,  logs  and 
gravel  bars  only  inches  below  the  surface 
can  do  much  damage  to  your  engine. 
What  usually  happens  is  that  the  propeller 
hits  an  object,  or  the  skeg,  the  lowest  part 
of  the  engine,  bangs  an  obstruction.  And 
even  when  you’re  looking  out  for  hazards, 
you  don’t  often  see  obstructions  until 
you’re  right  on  top  of  them. 

Replacing  a propeller  on  a small- 
horsepower  engine  costs  about  $100,  and 
repairing  a prop  can  cost  about  $50. 
Replacing  the  drive  shaft  (bent  ones  usu- 
ally can’t  be  straightened)  is  much  more 
expensive.  So  it  pays  to  sharpen  your  mo- 
toring skills  to  increase  your  shallow-water 
fishing  effectiveness.  A small  investment  in 
skills  could  also  save  you  big  bucks 
on  equipment  repair  while  you  prowl  the 
shallows. 

Because  I often  fish  in  shallow  lakes 
and  rivers,  and  in  the  shallow  parts  of 
deeper  waterways,  1 used  to  carry  a large 
supply  of  shear  pins  for  my  propeller. 
They  are  made  of  soft  metal  so  that  if  the 
propeller  hits  an  obstruction,  the  pin 
breaks.  This  lets  the  shaft  spin  freely  with- 
out turning  the  blocked  propeller,  thus 
keeping  the  shaft  straight.  Breaking  the 
shear  pin  also  takes  the  brunt  off  the  pro- 
peller of  clobbering  an  obstacle,  and  in 
many  cases,  the  broken  shear  pin  saves 
both  the  propeller  and  the  drive  shaft. 

1 changed  shear  pins  so  many  times  that 
I had  the  system  down  pat  for  my  engine, 
and  I often  changed  them  quickly  without 
removing  the  motor  from  the  transom  or 
without  getting  out  of  the  boat. 

These  little  pins  save  a lot  of  money  and 
a lot  of  fishing  time,  so  learn  how  to 
change  your  engine’s  shear  pin.  I carried 
pliers  and  a supply  of  pins  in  my  tackle 
box,  so  I was  ready  at  any  time  to  perform 
the  operation. 

Be  sure  your  shear  pins  are  the  proper 
size  for  your  engine,  because  the  sizes  of 
shear  pins  vary  greatly,  and  installing  the 
wrong  size  shear  pin  can  do  considerable 
damage.  Consult  your  dealer  for  the 
proper  size  shear  pin  your  engine  needs, 


and  look  over  your  operator’s  manual  for 
an  explanation  of  how  to  change  the  pin. 

Slip  clutch 

If  your  small-horsepower  engine  doesn’t 
incorporate  shear  pins,  it  has  a slip  clutch 
installed  in  the  propeller.  A slip  clutch  is  a 
rubber  hub  that’s  pressed  into  the  prop 
where  it  fits  around  the  drive  shaft.  If  you 
hit  an  obstruction,  the  slip  clutch  is  de- 
signed to  disengage  the  propeller  from  the 
drive  shaft.  When  you  are  free  of  the  ob- 
struction, the  design  lets  the  prop  engage 
fully  again. 

You  don’t  need  to  tend  a slip  clutch  as 
you  need  to  babysit  your  shear  pins.  You 
shouldn’t  have  a problem  with  your  en- 
gine’s slip  clutch  unless  you’ve  nailed  a few 
underwater  obstructions  over  the  years 
and  never  had  the  slip  clutch  inspected  for 
wear.  One  sure  sign  of  a worn  slip  clutch  is 
the  engine  losing  power  at  full  or  nearly 
full  throttle.  A worn  slip  clutch  can’t  take 
the  torque  of  the  engine  at  full  throttle,  so 
it  gives,  letting  the  prop  disengage  from 
the  drive  shaft.  Slip  clutches  should  be  re- 
placed by  dealers.  Don’t  try  to  make  this 
repair  yourself. 

Shear  pins  or  slip  clutches,  know  which 
design  your  engine  uses  for  shallow  water 
motoring.  Up  to  about  9.9  horsepower, 
engines  use  either  shear  pins  or  slip 
clutches  to  protect  props  and  drive  shafts. 
Whether  your  engine  is  equipped  with 
either  measure  depends  on  the 
manufacturer. 

One  simple  procedure  that  can  save  you 
a lot  of  time  and  money  is  to  inspect  your 
engine  regularly,  especially  after  bumping 
a few  bottom  objects  when  your  engine 
has  apparently  sustained  no  damage. 
You’d  be  surprised  how  durable  engines 
and  propellers  are,  but  you  may  also  not 
notice  damage  that  could  eventually  result 
in  large  repair  bills  or  that  could  leave 
you  stranded  on  the  water  with  an  engine 
that  dies. 


For  instance,  a few  years  ago,  I noticed 
that  an  underwater  obstruction  knocked  a 
small  piece  off  of  my  engine’s  skeg.  This 
damage  was  not  serious,  but  if  a larger 
piece  had  been  torn  away,  the  damage 
might  have  been  irreparable,  if  I hadn’t 
noticed  it  right  away. 

Vibrations  and  bumps 

To  minimize  damage  further,  listen  to 
your  engine,  and  learn  to  interpret  the 
sounds.  If  your  motor  vibrates  excessively, 
it  may  mean  that  your  propeller  is  dam- 
aged, bent  or  broken,  or  that  skinny- water 
weeds  have  a stranglehold  on  your  prop. 

If  you  hit  an  object,  which  causes  only 
a minor  “bump,”  and  the  engine  sud- 
denly races  while  you  make  no  progress, 
the  shear  pin  has  probably  broken  or  the 
slip  clutch  has  given  out. 

Gradually  making  less  and  less  progress 
in  shallow  water,  even  while  you  increase 
the  engine  speed,  could  mean  that  your 
boat  bottom  is  covered  with  weeds.  I’ve 
often  experienced  this  kind  of  getting  no- 
where fast  when  I’ve  slowly  gone  over 
thick  weed  beds.  If  you  clobber  no  other 
objects  that  may  be  in  among  the  weeds, 
you  can  probably  glide  off  the  weed  bed 
just  by  raising  the  engine,  or  you  may  have 
to  row  yourself  out  of  the  salad.  Don’t 
gun  the  motor.  You  could  scare  the  fish  or 
smack  an  obstruction  hard  enough  to  do 
some  serious  damage  to  your  motor. 

One  strategy  I used  when  trolling  in 
shallow  water  with  an  engine  of  four 
horsepower  was  to  tilt  the  engine  up  so 
that  the  propeller  and  water  intake  were 
just  below  the  surface.  You  should  never 
run  an  engine  out  of  water,  but  this  tactic 
lets  the  engine  run  just  under  the  surface 
while  allowing  more  clearance  over  under- 
water hazards. 

This  practice  has  its  drawbacks.  Because 
the  engine  is  not  running  at  its  usual  posi- 
tion, the  boat  trim  is  greatly  different,  es- 
pecially when  you’re  alone  in  the  boat. 


Sharpen  your  boating  skills  to  increase 
your  shallow-water  fishing  effectiveness. 


22  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


PA  Fish  Commission  file  photo 


Skinny  Water 


The  transom  rides  low  while  the  bow  aims 
upward.  The  engine  also  has  to  run  a little 
faster  than  usual  because  you  can’t  make 
progress  this  way  as  you  could  if  the  en- 
gine were  angled  better. 

The  advantages  of  adjusting  the  motor 
angle  far  outweigh  the  drawbacks.  Before 
the  propeller  can  bash  something  in  the 
water,  you  can  usually  lift  the  engine  up  all 
the  way  quickly,  aided  by  the  head  start 
that  tilting  the  engine  up  provides.  Shut 
down  the  engine  right  away  if  you  need  to 
tilt  the  lower  unit  out  of  harm’s  way.  The 
danger  would  probably  be  a boulder,  tree 
trunk  or  stump  looming  an  inch  or  two 
below  the  surface. 

While  playing  fish 

Another  dangerous  situation  for  your 


engine  in  shallow  water  might  occur  when 
you’re  playing  a nice  fish.  I usually  cut  the 
engine  and  turn  the  boat  to  one  side  so  I 
can  fight  the  fish  perpendicular  to  the 
boat,  instead  of  off  the  bow  or  stem. 
Playing  and  landing  a large  fish  is  easier 
this  way.  The  difficulty  for  your  engine  is 
that  you  can  hit  underwater  objects  play- 
ing the  fish  as  your  boat  drifts  with  the 
current,  or  as  it  gets  pushed  by  the  wind. 

To  remedy  this  situation,  rig  the  anchor 
so  that  when  a big  bruiser  hits,  cut  the 
engine,  throw  the  handle  to  one  side  thus 
turning  the  boat,  and  tilt  the  engine  up. 
Then  lower  the  anchor.  Set  it  up  so  that 
only  a certain  amount  of  line  pays  out. 
In  this  way,  you  play  the  big  ones  and 
the  boat  and  engine  aren’t  subject  to  the 
difficulties  that  currents  and  drifting 


can  produce. 

Finally,  fitting  your  motor’s  lower  unit 
with  a cage,  fork,  rake  or  other  prop  pro- 
tector is  a good  idea  that  can  save  you 
time  and  money  in  the  long  run.  These 
devices  including  installation  cost  around 
$100.  Dealers  have  them  available  or  you 
could  purchase  one  from  a welder  and 
mount  it  yourself,  if  you’re  so  inclined. 

Your  engine’s  slip  clutch  or  shear  pin  is 
a lifesaver  for  shallow-water  use.  Get  into 
good  habits  to  protect  your  boat  and  mo- 
tor in  shallow  water,  and  then  you’re  ready 
to  go  after  the  big  ones  in  the  thickest 
cover  and  skinniest  water.  rm 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


23 


Terrestrials 

for 


TOUGH 

TROUT 

by  Harry  W.  Murray 


Trout  feed  heavily  in  September  and  Octo- 
ber. In  fact,  this  time  of  year  often  pro- 
duces the  best  angling  of  the  season.  Sure, 
the  major  aquatic  insect  hatches  are  over, 
and  although  I’m  sure  the  trout  would 
welcome  a confused,  thick  hatch  of  Quill 
Gordons  that  misread  their  calendars  and 
decided  to  hatch  in  September  rather  than 
April,  they  seem  to  get  along  well  with 
what  nature  provides. 

The  major  food  sources  available  to 
them  now  are  terrestrial  insects.  Prompted 
by  the  cooler  water  temperatures  at  this 
time  of  year,  most  trout  feed  much  more 
actively  now  than  they  did  in  mid- 
summer—this  is  especially  true  of  trout  in 
Pennsylvania  freestone  streams.  The  on- 
coming spawning  season  for  the  browns 
and  brookies  also  prompts  their  need  for 
more  food.  All  this  works  in  an  angler’s 
favor,  but  there  are  several  important  as- 
pects to  consider. 

You  are  not  dealing  with  the  dumb,  gul- 
lible trout  of  last  spring.  In  the  open  water 
most  of  these  fish  have  been  caught  and 
removed,  and  in  no-kill  water  they  have 
been  caught  and  released  several  times, 
thus  changing  the  whole  complexion  of 
the  game. 


Getting  smart 

These  fish  now  know  how  to  select  their 
cover  and  feeding  stations  in  a manner 
that  lets  them  consume  the  maximum 
amount  of  food  while  remaining  safe  from 
predators. 

In  some  cases  their  cover,  or  holding 
water,  is  different  from  their  feeding  sta- 
tions. But  when  you  can  find  a set-up 
where  the  bedroom  and  the  dining  room 
are  close  together,  you  have  put  the  odds 
on  your  side.  Sometimes  this  can  be  easier 
to  determine  than  you  might  assume. 

Don’t  confuse  this  with  reading  the  wa- 
ter on  a typical  freestone  stream  in  the 
spring  when  the  hatches  are  on.  There  are 
some  similarities,  but  you  must  now  go 
beyond  that. 

What  you  are  looking  for  is  overhead, 
or  side,  cover  with  a moderate  current 
flowing  close  by.  Trout  prefer  the  overhead 


cover,  but  what  I call  “snuggle-cover,” 
that  is,  something  that  the  trout  can  move 
in  close  beside  to  provide  security,  is  a 
close  second.  The  wisest  and  largest  trout 
almost  always  seek  these  areas — if  there  is 
sufficient  current  close  by. 

For  simplicity,  call  this  area  of  ample 
cover  with  an  adequate  food  supply  a “se- 
cure feeding  station.”  If  you  think  of 
these  areas  as  being  located  along  edges,  it 
simplifies  your  job  of  identifying  them. 

The  most  well-known  feeding  stations 
in  this  regard  are  the  undercut  banks  on 
spring  creeks.  These  are  certainly  close  to 
the  top  of  the  list  of  secure  feeding  sta- 
tions and  deserve  very  close  scrutiny  wher- 
ever you  find  them. 

The  second  area,  also  located  in  spring 
creeks,  are  the  aquatic  grass  islands.  The 
preferred  feeding  areas  here  are  along  the 
sides  parallel  to  the  stream  flow,  but  the 


24  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration  bv  Ted  Walke 


from  the  log.  Then  1 saw  why  the  trout 
had  been  so  willing  to  accept  my  fly.  The 
underside  of  the  bark  was  covered  with 
small  worms  that  were  almost  the  same 
size  and  color  of  my  pattern. 

Carefully  checking  a few  more  sticks 
and  logs  revealed  a tremendous  number  of 
these  worms  that  a local  angler  later  iden- 
tified (correctly  or  not)  as  an  oak  worm. 
I’m  sure  the  trout  cared  little  about  the 
origin  or  the  exact  name  of  these  worms, 
but  they  sure  liked  them  in  the  water! 

The  important  lesson  to  learn  is  to  be 
observant  of  what’s  going  on  around  you 
on  the  stream  and  to  strive  to  find  what 
natural  food  is  available  to  the  trout  at  all 
times.  Had  I not  accidentally  started  with 
that  pattern,  I may  have  missed  out  on 
some  excellent  fishing.  And  had  I not 
stuck  it  in  a log,  I may  not  have  realized 
why  it  was  working.  Fortunately,  all  this 
worked  in  my  favor — no  credit  to  me. 
Certainly  this  is  no  way  to  make  consistent 
catches.  You’re  better  off  becoming  a keen 
observer  than  relying  on  luck. 

Ant  tale 

For  example,  you  walk  in  beside  a 
small,  cold  spring  creek  in  mid-September 
and  see  three  good  trout  rising  under  a big 
sycamore  tree  that  sweeps  down  close  to 
the  water.  You  know  it’s  too  late  in  the  day 
for  the  trico  hatch,  and  there  are  no  other 
hatches  due,  so  what  could  the  trout  be 
feeding  on? 

Wondering  if  the  baetis  jumped  the  sea- 
son a little,  you  carefully  check  the  stream 
surface,  but  as  expected,  there  are  no  little 
dun-colored,  sailboat-like  wings  flashing 
in  the  light,  which  easily  signals  their  pres- 
ence. There  are  still  a lot  of  grasshoppers 
around  but  you’ve  never  seen  them  on  the 
water  thick  enough  to  bring  the  trout  up 
at  this  frequency — these  fish  are  coming 
up  about  every  minute  or  so. 

The  trout  are  in  flat  water  and  you  may 
get  only  one  or  two  casts,  so  you  want  to 
have  the  right  fly.  Finally,  you  walk  down- 
stream to  another  large  sycamore  to  see  if 
it  can  provide  a hint  of  the  trout’s  food.  It 
does!  It’s  loaded  with  small  black  ants. 

Confidently  you  tie  a size  20  dry  black 
ant  onto  your  6X  leader  and  head  back  up 
to  your  feeders.  You  take  the  closest  one, 
hoping  you  can  work  him  down  your  way 
without  spooking  the  other  two,  but  a 
16-inch  brown  isn’t  easily  horsed  on  a 6X 
tippet. 

Anyway,  you  now  know  what’s  going 
on  so  you’ll  have  a good  chance  of  taking 
at  least  one  more  when  you  come  back 
downstream  later. 


downstream  extension  of  the  grass  can 
also  offer  good  action. 

Logs,  boulders 

A log  in  mid-stream  can  also  provide 
these  desirable  edges  for  the  trout  in  both 
freestone  and  spring  creeks.  Look  for  the 
trout  to  be  lying  back  under  the  log  with 
just  his  nose  out  to  suck  in  any  food  the 
current  brings. 

Boulders  in  mid-stream  on  freestoners 
can  also  provide  secure  feeding  stations  at 
this  time  of  year,  if  they  possess  a flat  or 
undercut  side  parallel  to  the  stream  flow. 
This  same  set-up  often  occurs  with  ledges 
along  the  sides  of  lips  in  the  tails  of  free- 
stone pools. 

In  addition  to  the  protection  and  com- 
fort these  feeding  stations  along  the  edges 
afford  the  trout,  there  is  another  reason 
for  their  importance  at  this  time  of  year. 


These  banks,  logs  and  boulders  are  now 
the  sources  of  their  food — the  land-borne 
insects. 

This  point  was  driven  home  to  me  quite 
forcefully  as  I fished  the  Yellow  Breeches 
last  September.  Using  a size  16  dry  inch- 
worm  pattern  that  had  faded  to  tan 
through  usage,  I picked  up  a fair  number 
of  fish  during  the  first  half-hour.  Experi- 
menting to  see  just  where  I could  get  the 
most  strikes  eventually  led  me  to  dropping 
my  fly  tight  against  the  bank.  The  tighter 
I could  cast  it  to  the  bank,  the  more  fish 
I caught. 

There  were  no  inch  worms  around,  but 
the  trout  seemed  to  want  my  grubby- 
looking fly.  The  inevitable  finally  hap- 
pened; I overshot  my  target  and  hung  the 
fly  on  a log  on  the  bank  right  at  the 
water’s  edge.  As  I retrieved  my  fly  I acci- 
dentally broke  off  a small  strip  of  bark 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


Being  alert  to  just  what  was  happening 
concerning  terrestrial  insects  enabled  me 
to  have  my  best  day’s  fishing  on  Big 
Spring  Greek.  Oh,  I enjoy  the  sulphur 
hatch  there,  and  the  little  caddises  have 
provided  some  good  action,  but  this  day 
was  special! 

Grasshopper  story 

There  were  a lot  of  grasshoppers  along 
the  banks.  About  mid-afternoon  a strong 
wind  started  blowing  from  the  west,  and 
although  I didn’t  actually  see  it  blowing 
hoppers  into  the  stream,  I could  see  lots  of 
weeds  and  seed  pods  coming  down.  It  just 
seemed  as  if  there  should  be  some  hoppers 
finding  their  way  to  the  stream  as  the  wind 
dislodged  them. 

Rather  than  blindly  fish  the  water  at 
first,  I decided  to  try  to  locate  specific  fish 
that  might  be  taking  the  hoppers. 

If  you  haven’t  watched  trout  feeding  on 
terrestrials  from  secure  feeding  stations, 
such  as  undercut  banks,  you  might  be  sur- 
prised at  what  you  are  missing.  In  fact, 
that’s  the  point! 

If  you  are  accustomed  only  to  seeing 
trout  rise  to  suck  in  a drifting  mayfly  in 
mid-stream,  you  may  not  even  recognize 
that  he  is  feeding  on  terrestrials  tight  to  the 
bank.  The  rise  form  in  mid-stream  is  char- 
acterized by  the  beautiful  little  concentric 
rings  sent  out  around  the  take.  Tight 
against  the  bank  the  best  you  can  hope  to 
see  is  what  I call  a “half-rise  form.”  The 
bank  simply  smothers  the  rings  on  that 
side.  Unfortunately,  if  there  is  a moder- 
ately fast  current  and  the  fish  is  only  stick- 
ing his  nose  out,  you  don’t  get  even  this 
much,  but  you  are  required  to  detect  the 
trout’s  presence  by  an  unnatural  move- 
ment of  the  surface  water  in  that  area— 
“busy  water,”  I call  it. 

Back  to  that  day  on  Big  Spring  Creek. 
Sure  enough,  I spotted  something  unusual 
immediately  in  front  of  a half-submerged 


log,  right  where  the  current  slowed  mo- 
mentarily, producing  a dammed  area  of 
dead  water.  I dropped  my  size  12  Letort 
hopper  about  two  feet  above  the  log,  but 
as  it  approached  the  target  the  current 
grabbed  the  leader  and  the  fly  was  pulled 
out  just  before  reaching  the  log. 

I backed  off  and  went  upstream  about 
20  feet  so  that  I could  drop  my  leader  into 
a smoother  line  of  drift.  Again  my  hopper 
headed  for  the  log,  but  this  time  it  got 
there  before  the  leader.  It  drifted  slowly 
along  the  front  of  the  log  in  the  little  belt 
of  buffered  still  water  when  suddenly  I re- 
alized it  had  disappeared.  No  rise  form,  it 
was  just  gone. 

Gently  1 lifted  the  rod  and  my  brown 
quickly  let  me  know  he  had  my  hopper. 
He  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  largest 
trout  I’ve  ever  caught.  By  using  the  same 
tactics— fishing  my  hopper  tight  against 
the  windward  bank — I took  quite  a few 
real  nice  trout  that  same  day. 

Shenk’s  Cricket  is  one  of  the  finest 
terrestrial  patterns  I’ve  ever  used.  Not  only 
does  it  pass  for  the  real  cricket,  but  I’m 
sure  trout  mistake  it  for  many  other 
food  forms. 

During  September,  many  mountain 
streams  provide  excellent  trout  fishing  with 
a size  14  cricket.  At  this  time  of  year  the 
natural  insect  many  anglers  refer  to  as  a 
“mountain  wasp”  is  around  the  streams  in 
large  numbers.  This  is  much  larger  than 
most  of  the  insects  present  on  these  head- 
water streams,  and  the  trout  feed  well  on 
them.  Although  I take  some  trout  by  fish- 
ing the  main  part  of  the  pools  with  crick- 
ets, under  these  circumstances  I do  better 
by  concentrating  on  bank  cover,  boulders 
and  logs  in  mid-stream. 

Crowe  beetles 

The  Crowe  beetle  in  sizes  14,  16,  and  18 
are  also  excellent  in  the  mountain  streams 
at  this  time  of  the  year.  Don’t  assume  that 
these  flies  are  effective  only  when  Japanese 
beetles  are  present.  There  are  dozens  of 
beetle-like  insects  around  our  streams  on 
which  trout  feed,  and  this  is  the  best  imita- 
tion I’ve  found. 

The  Crowe  beetle  can  evoke  strikes  in  a 
manner  that  may  seem  a little  strange  to 
some  anglers,  until  they  consider  the  man- 
ner in  which  many  naturals  find  their  way 
to  the  stream  surface. 

Suppose  you  spot  a trout  on  a feeding 
station.  You  know  there  are  lots  of  beetles 
around  the  stream,  and  you’ve  landed  five 
trout  already  on  the  beetle.  This  trout 
should  take  your  fly  if  you  cast  it  about 
three  feet  upstream  of  him,  being  careful 


not  to  let  your  line  or  leader  fall  across 
him  or  drift  over  him  before  the  beetle  gets 
to  him. 

He  rises  slowly  to  your  fly,  but  at  the 
last  instant  refuses  it  and  drops  back  down 
to  his  previous  position.  Realizing  that  he 
wanted  it  but  for  some  unperceived  reason 
would  not  strike  it,  you  decide  to  rest  him. 
Calmly  you  count  to  one  hundred,  know- 
ing that  this  gives  both  you  and  the  trout 
time  to  calm  down. 

You  make  your  pitch  again,  and  he 
refuses  it  once  more,  this  time  not  ap- 
proaching it  as  closely  as  he  did  the  first 
drift.  That  did  it.  After  giving  him  time  to 
return  to  his  feeding  station  you  carefully 
measure  your  false  cast  until  you  know 
you  can  hit  the  target.  This  time  you  apply 
a lot  of  extra  force  to  the  delivery  cast  and 
“splat”  your  beetle  onto  the  surface  even 
with  his  tail  and  foot  out  to  the  side.  In- 
stantly he  turns  and  takes  your  fly 
solidly — he  was  used  to  this  “splat”  from 
the  real  beetles. 

At  this  time  of  year  it  is  not  at  all  un- 
usual to  find  rising  trout  and  not  be  able 
to  determine  exactly  what  they  are  feed- 
ing on.  Considering  the  great  number  of 
mature  terrestrial  insects,  this  is  not 
surprising. 

One  day  while  fishing  Falling  Spring 
with  Vince  Marinaro,  we  encountered 
such  a situation.  At  Vince’s  suggestion  I 
dropped  downstream  a short  distance  and 
strained  the  stream’s  surface  film  with  a 
small  pocket  net  I carry  for  such  occa- 
sions. There  was  a broad  assortment  of 
tiny  land-borne  insects  available  to  the 
trout,  just  as  we  had  suspected. 

As  was  our  standard  procedure  when 
confronting  a variety  of  “leafhoppers,”  I 
attached  a size  20  black  jassid  (which 
Vince  devised)  to  my  7X  leader  and  went 
to  work.  I landed  eight  trout  in  the  next  30 
feet  of  stream. 

A good  fly  assortment  for  September 
should  include  Letort  hoppers  in  sizes  12 
to  16,  crickets  in  sizes  12  to  16,  Crowe  bee- 
tles in  sizes  10  to  20,  black  ants  in  sizes  14 
to  22,  jassids  in  sizes  18  to  22,  and  inch- 
worms  in  sizes  12  to  16. 

Fly  rods  for  this  fishing  should  be  from 
seven  to  nine  feet  long  and  balance  with 
2-,  3-  or  4-weight  lines.  Reels  should  be 
lightweight  with  very  delicate  drags.  Lead- 
ers should  be  from  9 to  12  feet  long  and 
tapered  down  to  4X,  5X,  6X  and  7X. 

September  trout  fishing  can  be  the  best 
of  the  year  if  you  remain  observant 
to  the  changing  conditions,  feeding  habits 
of  the  trout  and  the  natural  foods  availa- 
ble to  the  fish.  (7TJ 


26  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Harry  W.  Murray 


t\  Supermarket 
WF  Baits 


Baits  from  a supermarket?  You  might  not  believe  it,  but 
it’s  true.  Each  year  the  Fish  Commission  gets  reports  of 
fish  caught  using  a variety  of  baits  that  can  be  found  on 
the  shelves  of  your  local  supermarket  or  grocery  store. 

Although  we  don’t  recommend  them  as  consistent 
fish  catchers  like  worms,  lures,  and  flies,  depending  on 
the  time  of  year,  kind  of  fish  and  other  conditions,  you 
might  from  time  to  time  be  able  to  catch  fish  on  one  of 
these  bonus  buys  or  weekly  specials.  Here  are  some 
supermarket  baits  that  you  might  want  to  consider. 

• Miniature  marshmallows.  Every  trout  sea- 
son anglers  report  success  in  landing  trout, 
especially  stocked  rainbows  for  some  strange 

reason.  They  don’t  look  like  hatchery  pellets,  but  per- 
haps their  color  and  smell  attract  fish. 

• Liver.  Many  catfish  anglers  swear  by  this 
bait,  and  the  stronger  the  odor,  the  better. 

A few  years  ago  I approached  three  young 
anglers  in  Allentown  with  a nice  stringer  of  catfish.  I 
could  almost  smell  the  boys  before  I could  see  them. 
They  had  a plastic  cup  filled  with  beef  liver  that  they 
had  set  in  the  sun  for  a few  days.  Whew! 

One  young  lad  in  Pittsburgh  caught  two  muskies  on 
the  same  day  using  liver. 

• Cheese.  Velveeta  seems  to  be  the  kind 
most  used.  Tiny  pieces  or  balls  used  on  a 
number  6 or  8 hook  often  score  on  trout. 

We’ve  seen  an  occasional  carp  report  that  revealed 
that  the  fish  we  caught  on  a “Velveeta  lure.” 

Hot  dogs.  An  entire  hot  dog  resembling  a 
/ f plug  has  never  been  used,  but  small  pieces 

U fished  for  bluegills  have  been  successful  gro- 
cery store  baits.  Anglers  who  ran  out  of  worms  have 
used  them.  We  sometimes  suspect  that  those  who 
can’t  stand  worms  used  hot  dog  pieces  instead. 


Bread.  This  is  an  old  standby.  Many  farm 
'pond  anglers  have  used  this  bait.  It  works 
best  when  rolled  into  tight  balls,  but  it  doesn’t 
stay  on  the  hook  well.  Some  anglers  mix  it  with  small 
pieces  of  cotton.  You  can  buy  commercially  made 
doughbait  designed  especially  for  fishing.  Many  an- 
glers use  this  on  their  trips  to  carp  hideouts. 

'•  Corn.  One  of  the  fellows  in  our  office  rec- 
ommends Green  Giant  Niblets  as  the  only 
true  carp  bait.  Throwing  a handful  of  whole 
kernels  into  an  area  where  carp  are  spawning  and  then 
attaching  three  or  four  kernels  to  a small  hook  often 
brings  a “carp  attack.”  We’ve  also  seen  reports  of  rain- 
bow trout  being  caught  from  lakes  and  streams  on  a 
single  kernel  of  yellow  corn. 

• Shrimp.  This  is  an  expensive  way  to  go 
and  we  don’t  encourage  anglers  to  purchase 
a pound  or  two  for  fishing!  Given  the  same 

liver  treatment  of  sun  curing,  a smelly  shrimp  fished  at 
night  for  catfish  is  a sure-fire  bait.  This  past  opening 
day  of  trout  season  I met  a young  man  who  was  having 
trouble  catching  fish.  I was  near  my  cabin  and  hap- 
pened to  remember  two  shrimp  left  in  the  refrigerator 
from  our  Friday  evening  meal.  I broke  one  of  the  shrimp 
in  three  pieces  and  gave  it  to  him  to  try  —bingo!  Two 
trout  on  two  casts! 

• Macaroni.  Half-sections  of  cooked  elbow 
macaroni  work  about  the  same  as  bread.  It’s 

a little  harder  to  use  and  store,  but  it  can  catch  some 
kinds  of  panfish. 

• Peas.  Yes,  peas,  green  peas  canned  and 
shelled,  sometimes  catch  fish,  although  I’ve 
never  tried  it.  I’ve  known  of  them  catching 

trout,  especially  through  the  ice. 

Chewing  gum.  While  other  supermarket 
baits  are  more  common,  chewing  gum  balls 
(after  a thorough  chewing)  seem  to  work.  We 
know  of  one  young  angler  who  caught  a huge  trout  a 
few  years  ago  in  the  Juniata  River  on  a piece  of  tea- 
berry  gum! 

Did  you  ever  catch  a fish  on  a supermarket  bait  or 
some  other  “odd”  lure?  If  you  did,  how  about  letting  us 
know!  Send  your  information  to  the  “Kids  Page.”  If  we 
get  enough,  we  might  be  able  to  publish  another  list. 
Contact:  Mr.  Steve  Ulsh,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion, RO.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 


Note  to  teachers 

If  you  would  like  multiple  copies  of  “Kids  Page!”  for 
classroom  use,  please  contact  Steve  Ulsh  at  the  Fish 
Commission  address  above. 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Commission  Course  Adopted 
in  Maryland 

The  certification  received  from  the  Fish 
Commission’s  Youth  Boating  and  Water 
Safety  Course  has  been  approved  by 
Maryland’s  marine  law  enforcement  offi- 
cers as  meeting  Maryland’s  Mandatory 
Boating  Education  Law. 

Graduates  of  the  Pennsylvania  course 


who  were  bom  after  July  1,  1972,  must 
carry  with  them,  in  accordance  with 
Maryland  law,  the  certificate  showing  that 
they  have  completed  the  Commission’s 
Boating  and  Water  Safety  Course  when 
operating  a motorboat  in  Maryland. 

The  Fish  Commission  course,  which 
promotes  boating  and  water  safety  educa- 
tion, was  originally  developed  in  1980  for 
Pennsylvania’s  public  school  systems; 
however,  it  has  been  adopted  and  used  by 


several  special-interest  groups,  such  as  the 
Boy  Scouts  and  the  Girl  Scouts. 

The  course  consists  of  eight  hours 
of  hands-on  learning.  Topics  covered  in- 
clude information  on  personal  flotation 
devices  (PFDs)  and  small-boat  safety  in- 
struction. For  more  information  on  this 
Commission  program,  contact  Cheryl  Ki- 
merline,  Bureau  of  Boating,  P.O.  Box 
1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673,  or  call 
7 17-657-4540. — Sherri  A kens 


Anglers 

Notebook 


The  seat-cushion-type  lifesaving  device  is 
legal  in  Pennsylvania,  but  it  does  little  good 
when  it’s  not  within  your  reach  if  the  boat 
capsizes  or  you  fall  overboard.  A small-boat 
owner,  in  particular,  would  be  wise  to  tie  a 
short  strand  of  twine  or  small-diameter  rope 
to  the  cushion  with  a snap  on  the  other  end. 
Clip  it  to  your  belt  while  seated  and  whenever 
you  motor  from  one  spot  to  another. 


Don’t  throw  away  the  small  packets  of 
silica  gel  that  come  with  various  products 
such  as  cameras  and  electronic  items.  Several 
of  them  placed  in  a compartment  of  a closed 
tackle  box  help  keep  excessive  moisture  from 
building  up. 


If  you  break  the  hollow  aluminum  handle 
on  a net,  cut  the  ends  smooth  and  insert  a 
4-  to  6-inch  wooden  dowel  of  the  proper 
diameter  into  one  of  the  handle  parts.  Slip 
the  other  over  the  dowel  until  the  two  parts 
meet.  Attach  the  parts  with  small  screws. 
Cover  the  joint  and  the  screw  heads  with 
plastic  tape. 

When  transferring  minnows  from  one  water 
supply  to  another,  be  certain  that  the  waters 
are  very  close  in  temperature.  Most  fish  have 
very  little  tolerance  for  quick  temperature 
changes  and  can  go  into  shock  and  often  die 
if  the  change  is  too  great. 


o 


If  you  fish  for  carp  or  catfish  from  shore, 
fashion  a surf-type  sand  spike  from  a piece  of 
plastic  pipe.  Cut  the  bottom  end  diagonally 
so  that  it  can  be  easily  thrust  into  the  bank.  It 
makes  a handy  rod  holder  when  still-fishing 
and  keeps  the  reel  out  of  the  sand  and  mud 
when  two  hands  are  needed  to  rig  a line  or 
change  bait. 

When  trying  to  locate  bass,  have  your  boat 
partner  use  different  lures  than  you’re  using. 
On  days  when  a feeding  pattern  isn’t  readily 
identifiable,  at  least  one  of  the  varied  lures 


The  old  belief  that  normal  chit-chat  scares 
fish  isn’t  true.  But  sounds  like  the  banging  of 
a tackle  box  or  the  scraping  of  feet  on  a boat 
bottom,  even  a radio  placed  on  a boat  deck 
or  seat,  will  spook  fish. 

New  anglers  can  be  confused  by  the 
number  system  used  to  designate  hook  sizes. 
Remember  that  0 (zero)  is  the  changing  point. 
Hook  sizes  above  0 increase  in  number 
designation  but  decrease  in  size  (2,  8,  12,  16, 
etc.),  while  hooks  below  0 increase  in 
number  designation  (1/0,  3/0,  5/0,  etc.)  as 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation 
of  our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diversi- 
fied fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E.,  Executive 
Director 

Lawrence  W.  Hoffman,  Executive 
Assistant 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel/ 
Planning  & Environmental  Regulation 
John  Arway,  Division  of 
Environmental  Services 
Joseph  A.  Greene,  Legislative  Liaison 
Lois  J.  Telep,  Executive  Secretary 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shryl  Hood,  Division  of  Warm  water/ 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Services 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-657-4540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  & Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION  & 
INFORMATION 
717-657-4518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  R.  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


28  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


The  Yardley  Access 


Shad  Research 


In  the  spring  a young  man’s  fancy  turns 
to  shad!  Improvements  in  the  quality  of 
the  water  in  the  Delaware  since  the  early 
1970s  have  caused  a phenomenal  increase 
in  the  annual  spring  migration  of  these  sil- 
very battlers,  and  in  the  numbers  of  fisher- 
men who  seek  them. 

Anglers  launching  at  the  Fish  Commis- 
sion Yardley  Access  have  the  first  chance  at 
these  magnificent  fighting  fish.  It  is  easily 
found,  on  Route  32  between  Yardley  and 
the  Interstate  95  bridge  to  New  Jersey. 

When  this  property  was  purchased  in 
1960,  it  was  large  enough  to  satisfy  the 
needs  of  the  boating  and  fishing  public. 
As  boating  and  boat  fishing  became  more 
popular,  the  access  was  expanded  by  buy- 
ing two  additional  parcels  as  they  became 
available.  The  resurgence  of  the  shad  fish- 
ery in  the  late  1970s  and  1980s  increased 
the  demands  on  this  small  access  and  an 
additional  tract  was  acquired  in  1981.  Al- 
though the  Yardley  Access  today  is  only 
slightly  over  two  acres,  it  is  three  times  its 
original  size. 

The  single-lane  ramp  is  designed  to  han- 
dle the  largest  trailered  boats.  There  are  20 
parking  spaces  for  cars  and  30  for  cars 
with  boat  trailers. 

The  Yardley  Access  provides  opportuni- 
ties to  fish  a pool  that  extends  from  Tren- 
ton Falls  four  miles  downstream  to 
Scudders  Falls,  one  mile  upstream.  This 
part  of  the  river  is  notable  for  a diversified 
mix  of  migrating  and  resident  fish. 

The  migrating  varieties  are  represented 
by  American  and  hickory  shad,  blueback 
herring,  alewives  and  white  bass.  Resident 
gamefish  include  largemouth  and 
smallmouth  bass,  walleye  and  muskel- 
lunge.  Panfish  may  also  be  caught,  such 
as  white  and  channel  catfish,  bullheads, 
suckers,  carp,  crappies  and  sunfish. — 
Philip  Anderson 


Corrections 

In  the  June  1988  Angler  article  “Penn- 
sylvania’s Best  Campground  Fishing,”  the 
Bruce  Lake  Wilderness  Area  mentioned  is 
actually  called  the  Bruce  Lake  Natural 
Area.  Camping  is  not  permitted  in  the 
area,  either.  The  number  of  campsites  at 
Little  Pine  State  Park  is  105,  not  110,  and 
the  correct  telephone  number  of  the  park 
is  717-753-8209. 


The  Fish  Commission  is  presently  engaged  in  research  to  evaluate  the  stocking  of 
hatchery-reared  American  shad  released  as  juveniles  into  the  Susquehanna  River  and  its 
tributaries. 

Biologists  are  examining  the  contributions,  and  in  turn  the  effects,  of  hatchery-reared 
fish  on  the  numbers  of  adult  American  shad  returning  from  the  Atlantic-Chesapeake  Bay 
system. 

The  Fish  Commission  is  evaluating  its  trap  and  transfer  program,  in  which  American 
shad  are  trapped  at  the  Conowingo  Dam  and  are  taken  upriver,  above  the  Susquehanna’s 
five  dam  systems.  The  Commission  is  also  determining  the  contribution  of  these  fish  to 
the  number  of  returning  shad. 

It  is  hoped  that  a new  tetracycline  (TC)  fish-tagging  program,  involving  the  marking  of 
juvenile  American  shad  through  immersion,  will  permit  further  evaluation  of  the  problems 
associated  with  the  shad  passing  back  through  the  dam  systems,  from  Juniata  River-area 
waters  to  the  Atlantic-Chesapeake  Bay  system. 

Additional  information  on  activities  can  be  obtained  by  contacting  the  Susquehanna 
River  Coordinator,  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105- 
1673. — Sherri  Akens 


S’  The  Commission’s  Ninth  Student  Officer  Class  graduated  June  3 from  the  H.  R. 

I Stackhouse  School  of  Fishery  Conservation  and  Watercraft  Safety.  Executive  Di- 
rector Edward  R.  Miller  presided  over  the  ceremony  and  Joan  R.  Plumly,  Com- 
mission past-president,  presented  the  graduates  with  their  diplomas.  The  new 
WCOs  are:  (front  row)  Raymond  A.  Bednarchik,  (second  row  left  to  right)  Wil- 
liam C.  Carey,  Paul  A.  Nosal,  Jr.,  Jeffrey  S.  Bridi,  ( third  row  left  to  right)  George 
J.  Ravish,  John  Bowser,  and  Alan  D.  Robinson. — Sherri  Akens 


September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Art  Michaels  (center),  editor  of  the  Commission’s  Pennsylvania  Angler  and  Boat 
Pennsylvania  magazines,  is  this  year’s  Honorable  Mention  Award  winner  of  the 
Captain  Fred  E.  Lawton  Boating  Safety  Award,  sponsored  by  Raytheon  Company. 
Thomas  L.  Phillips  (left),  company  chairman,  presented  the  Fish  Commission  edi- 
tor with  a commemorative  plaque  and  a $500  honorarium.  A panel  of  32  judges 
from  publications,  broadcasting,  and  boating  safety  organizations  cited  Michaels 
for  eight  original  articles  and  photographs  that  appeared  in  1987  in  Pennsylvania 
Angler  and  Boat  Pennsylvania.  Stan  Clark  (right),  president  of  Raytheon  Marine 
Company,  participated  in  the  presentation. 


Fishing  the  Wind 

Wind  can  be  a fisherman’s  worst  en- 
emy, or  his  best  friend. 

At  the  first  sign  of  wind,  most  boaters 
retreat  to  the  protected  lee  side  of  a water- 
way. Gamefish,  on  the  other  hand,  head 
in  the  opposite  direction.  They’ll  often  go 
into  a feeding  frenzy  along  the  shoreline 
where  the  waves  are  crashing  hardest,  ac- 
cording to  the  fishing  experts  at  Mercury 
Outboards. 

Wind  causes  events  that  promote  in- 
tense feeding.  First,  algae  is  stacked 
against  the  windy  shoreline,  creating  a 
protective  umbrella  that  blocks  the  sun’s 
ultraviolet  rays  and  allows  fish  to  move  to 
shallow  water. 

At  the  same  time,  zooplankton  and 
phytoplankton  drift  shoreward,  attracting 
baitfish.  Warm  surface  water  is  pushed 
across  the  lake  and  stacked  on  the  windy 
shore.  Oxygen  levels  are  enhanced  with 

30  September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


every  wave  that  breaks. 

Soon,  small  fish  like  perch,  bluegills 
and  crappies  arrive  at  the  unfolding  smor- 
gasbord. They  attract  predators  like  wall- 
eye, bass,  northern  pike  and  muskies. 

When  the  wind  precedes  a frontal  sys- 
tem, signaling  a change  from  several  days 
of  steady  weather,  be  on  the  water. 

In  off-colored  water,  attractor  baits  like 
spinners,  crankbaits,  weight-forward  spin- 
ners and  spinnerbaits  usually  are  most 
productive.  The  vibrations  given  off  by 
these  lures  help  gamefish  locate  their  next 
meal.  In  stained  water,  fluorescent  colors 
are  most  visible  to  fish.  Shades  of  red  and 
orange  are  proven  producers  in  dark  water. 

Look  for  shorelines  with  bottom  types, 
dropoffs,  or  weeds  most  suitable  for  the 
species  you  want  to  catch.  For  instance, 
walleye  might  be  found  near  a point  with  a 
rock  or  gravel  bottom.  Bass  and  pike 
might  bunch  up  along  the  outside  edge 
of  a shallow  weed  bed.  Cast,  troll  or 


Marine  Fuels  Tax 

Each  year  the  amount  of  gasoline  used 
in  motorboats  is  calculated  from  informa- 
tion supplied  by  boat  owners  on  their  an- 
nual registration  renewal  notices.  On 
petition  to  the  Pennsylvania  Department 
of  Treasury,  the  Fish  Commission 
is  granted  a refund  of  all  tax  paid  on 
this  fuel  for  use  in  funding  its  boating 
programs. 

The  marine  fuels  tax  contribution  to  the 
Boat  Fund  is  substantial  and  it  has  largely 
been  the  reason  why  an  increase  in  boat 
registration  fees  has  been  avoided  since 
1964.  If  not  for  this  source  of  revenue, 
registration  fees  would  be  twice  what  they 
are  now. 

The  average  boater  in  Pennsylvania  may 
use  relatively  little  fuel,  but  combined  with 
the  total  number  of  boaters,  the  total  us- 
age results  in  a substantial  contribution  to 
the  funding  of  the  boating  programs  in 
Pennsylvania. 

When  completing  the  amount  of  gaso- 
line usage  portion  of  your  registration  re- 
newal notice,  please  be  sure  to  provide  the 
Commission  with  an  accurate  estimate  of 
the  amount  of  fuel  purchased  for  use  in 
your  boat.  The  tax  has  already  been  paid, 
and  the  Commission  needs  the  refund 
money  for  use  in  programs  that  benefit 
the  boaters  of  the  Commonwealth.— 
Sherri  A kens 


drift  these  areas  until  you  contact  a school 
of  fish. 

The  direction  in  which  the  bait  or  lure  is 
moving  can  be  an  important  consider- 
ation. Most  fish  close  to  shore  will  be  fac- 
ing deep  water,  because  food  is  coming 
from  that  direction.  In  this  case,  trolling 
or  drifting  with  the  wind  is  preferable.  Al- 
ways use  a “controlled”  drift,  using  your 
boat  motor  to  maintain  the  proper  speed 
and  course. 

If  the  fish  move  in  shallow,  which  they 
often  do,  it’s  usually  best  to  anchor  and 
cast.  When  you’ve  covered  all  the  water, 
slip  the  boat  downwind  on  the  anchor 
rope  to  new  opportunities. 

Safety,  of  course,  is  a prime  consider- 
ation. Never  overstep  the  limitations  of 
your  boat.  If  the  water  becomes  too 
rough,  head  to  shore  immediately. 

Fishing  the  wind  can  be  uncomfortable 
at  best,  and  downright  dangerous,  but  it’s 
also  an  excellent  time  to  catch  lunkers. 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


CAUGHT& 

RELEASED 


Pittsburgher  Tad  Potter  nailed  this  7- 
pound,  3-ounce  brown  trout  in  Spruce 
Creek,  Huntingdon  County,  last  April  15. 
He  took  the  trout  on  a fly. 


Karin  Bunting,  of  Ambler,  caught  this 
American  shad  while  fishing  with  her  fa- 
ther from  the  family  boat.  The  shad  hit  a 
Vi6-ounce  dart,  and  the  action  took  place 
on  May  8 in  the  Delaware’s  Monroe 
County  portion. 


Rick  Greenly  is  justly  proud  of  this  16- 
inch  crappie  he  coaxed  from  the  Schuylkill 
River  last  May.  The  slab-side  ambushed  a 
white  marabou  jig. 


Jack  Perry  hooked  this  4-pound  shad  at 
the  beginning  of  April  while  wading  the 
Delaware  and  casting  shad  darts.  Nice 
catch,  Jack! 


George  Fix,  of  Cochranton,  fooled  this 
17  ’/2-pound  carp  on  corn  in  French 
Creek  last  May  14.  On  that  day,  George 
and  his  brother,  Louis,  who’s  been  an 
Angler  subscriber  since  June  1944,  caught 
and  released  a carp  catch  that  totaled 
82  '/ 2 pounds! 

September  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  3 1 


Andrew  Chopak,  of  Camp  Hill,  boated 
this  18-inch  smallmouth  bass  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  while  casting  a minnow  in 
high,  muddy  water. 


agazine 


Straight 

Talk 

Time  for  a Comprehensive 
Commonwealth  Boating 
Program 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


One  hundred  and  twenty-two  years  ago,  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  was  created 
when  Governor  Andrew  G.  Curtin  signed  a 
law  creating  Pennsylvania’s  first  Fish  Com- 
mission. Sixty-five  years  later,  in  1931,  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  was  given  the 
responsibility  for  all  powerboating  activities 
on  inland  waters  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
motorboats  were  required  to  be  registered  at 
the  cost  of  $1  per  cylinder.  For  the  past  57 
years,  the  Commission  has  been  responsible 
for  enforcing  the  boating  laws  and  managing 
the  powerboating  activities  in  the  Common- 
wealth. During  this  time,  the  level  of  boating 
activity — both  powered  and  nonpowered — 
has  increased  tremendously. 

In  the  past  10  years,  the  number  of  regis- 
tered boats  in  Pennsylvania  has  increased 
from  167,000  to  251,000,  and  registration 
figures  for  1988  show  that  an  additional 

15.000  powered  boats  will  be  registered.  In 
addition,  it  is  estimated  that  more  than 

100.000  nonpowered  boats  also  use  the  wa- 
terways and  the  access  facilities. 

In  1987  the  Fish  Commission  commis- 
sioned Chilton  Research  Services  of  Radnor, 
Pennsylvania,  to  conduct  a telephone  survey 
on  the  recreational  boating  activities  of 
Pennsylvania  residents.  During  the  fall  of 
1987,  Chilton  interviewed  recreational  boat- 
ers to  assess  the  incidence  of  participation  in 
recreational  boating  activities  and  watercraft 
ownership  and  registration.  The  company 
also  determined  the  amount  of  boat  fuel 
purchased.  The  purpose  of  this  study  was  to 
provide  the  Commission  with  needed  infor- 
mation to  plan  future  directions  for  the  boat- 
ing program  in  the  Commonwealth  and 
move  toward  statewide  comprehensive  boat- 
ing management. 

Study  results  indicated  that  more  than  2.5 
million  Pennsylvania  residents  aged  12  and 
over  participated  in  recreational  boating  at 
least  once  during  the  period  of  September 
1986  to  September  1987.  Boat  fishing  and 
motorboat  cruising  were  the  most  common 
recreational  boating  activities.  In  addition, 
water  skiing  ranked  high  as  a favorite  activ- 
ity. Three-quarters  of  the  recreational  boaters 
reported  that  they  did  not  go  as  often  as  they 
would  have  liked,  and  most  of  those  indi- 
cated that  they  lacked  enough  time  or  money 
to  enjoy  their  favorite  boating  activity  fur- 
ther. The  boaters  reported  that  more  than  88 
percent  of  the  areas  used  had  some  type  of 
facilities,  and  the  typical  boater  reported 
that  he  used  publicly  provided  facilities  in 
Pennsylvania  more  than  people  who  boat  in 
other  states. 

This  indicates  that  Pennsylvania  has  done 
a good  job  providing  public  access  to  boat- 
ing waters  compared  to  the  efforts  of  other 
states.  The  most  prevalent  suggestion  for  im- 
proving facilities  was  to  expand  the  primary 
facilities,  or  to  add  more  access  areas. 


The  study  concluded  that  residents  of 
Pennsylvania  spend  an  estimated  $1.3  billion 
on  expenses  directly  related  to  recreational 
boating.  These  expenditures  include  the  pur- 
chase of  boats  and  trailers,  boat  mainte- 
nance and  repairs,  storage,  transportation 
and  launching,  registration  fees  or  rental 
fees,  boat  fuel  and  supplies.  The  company 
also  determined  that  a conservative  estimate 
of  the  amount  spent  on  boat  fuel  by  Penn- 
sylvania residents  totals  $63.4  million,  or 
$24.53  per  recreational  boater.  Pennsylvania 
residents  purchased  a total  of  almost  57  mil- 
lion gallons  of  boat  fuel,  or  an  average  of  22 
gallons  per  boater.  A conservative  estimate 
of  the  amount  spent  in  Pennsylvania  on  boat 
fuel  by  Pennsylvania  residents  alone  is  $27.9 
million,  for  a total  of  24.2  million  gallons. 
People  who  usually  boat  in  Pennsylvania 
also  spend  an  estimated  $28.2  million  on  au- 
tomobile fuel  incurred  while  boating  or  trav- 
eling to  boating  activities.  The  study  revealed 
that  only  a fourth  of  all  recreational  boaters 
had  ever  attended  a boating  safety  course 
such  as  those  given  by  the  U.S.  Coast  Guard 
Auxiliary,  the  American  Red  Cross,  the  Fish 
Commission  or  organized  canoe  and  kayak 
clubs. 

These  study  results  clearly  show  how 
Pennsylvania  boating  activities  have  grown  to 
be  a major  recreational  program  with  huge 
economic  benefits  to  the  Commonwealth. 
These  facts  also  support  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  Commission’s  efforts  to  rename  the 
Commission  the  “Pennsylvania  Fish  and 
Boat  Commission”  and  to  establish  a state- 
wide registration  system  that  will  enable  the 
Commonwealth  to  develop  a statewide  com- 
prehensive boating  program. 

Boating  is  not  only  a very  popular  sport, 
but  it  does  entail  some  element  of  danger 
because  cold  and  moving  water  are  danger- 
ous elements  to  the  careless  and  poorly  in- 
formed. Statistics  clearly  show  that  more 
boating  fatalities  occur  among  the  nonpo- 
wered boating  group,  who  at  this  time  can- 
not be  identified  and  included  in  the 
Commonwealth  efforts  to  train  and  educate 
participants  in  basic  boating  skills.  Develop- 
ment of  a statewide  comprehensive  program 
is  essential  if  these  lives  are  to  be  protected 
and  more  fatalities  avoided.  Knowledgeable 
and  responsible  boaters  throughout  the 
Commonwealth  support  the  Commission  in 
this  effort,  and  it  is  the  Commission’s  sincere 
hope  that  legislative  steps  will  soon  be  taken 
to  provide  Pennsylvania  boaters  the  type  of 
program  that  will  allow  them  to  continue 
to  enjoy  their  sport  in  a safe  and  healthy 
environment. 

We  ask  for  your  help  in  this  effort  and 
urge  you  to  contact  your  local  state  represen- 
tative or  state  senator  and  express  your  sup- 
port for  the  Fish  Commission’s  efforts. 


October  1988  Vol.  57  No.  10 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Leon  Reed 
President 
Honesdale 
David  Coe 
Vice  President 
State  College 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochran  ton 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 
T.  T.  Metzger,  Jr. 

Johnstown 
Joan  R.  Plumly 
Jenkintown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 


Pennsylvania 


I he  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


OCT  04  1988 


The  Many  Faces  of  Conneaut  Creek  by  Dari  Black 
There’s  a haven  in  northwest  Pennsylvania  for  smallmouth  bass,  muskies, 
catfish  and  much,  much  more  4 


Late-Season  Mays  by  Dave  Rothrock 
Mayfly  hatches  aren't  finished  yet.  You  can  still  get  in  on  some  good 
action 8 

Precautions  for  Using  Alcohol-Blended  Gasoline  in  Boats 

Alcohol-blended  gasoline  prompts  several  safety  concerns  for  boaters.  . 12 


Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Chairman 
Bloomsburg 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 

Intern — Sherri  Akens 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Intern — Jennifer  Bennett 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 

Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harrisburg, 
PA  17109.©  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted  with- 
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and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow  six  weeks 
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Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


KIDS  PAGE!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

Take  a close  look  at  fins,  shapes,  spots,  stripes  and  tails 14 

Stalkers  of  the  Dark  Retreat  by  Joe  McDonald 
What  do  you  think  of  when  someone  says  “salamanders”?  Enter  their 
world  with  the  author.  15 


The  Wooly  Bugger  by  Chauncy  K.  Lively 
This  productive  fly  evolved  from  a classic,  and  in  some  places  its  effective- 


ness is  deadly.  20 

Autumn  and  Those  River  Smallmouth  by  Jim  Gronaw 
You  have  a chance  now  to  land  a trophy.  22 

Autumn  Brookies  by  Ed  Shenk 
Mountain  brook  trout  fishing  in  October  offers  special  rewards 24 


The  covers 

This  month’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Tom  Fegely,  reflects  some  of 
the  fishing  success  you  could  have  this  fall.  If  you  live  in  northwest 
Pennsylvania,  turn  to  page  4 for  some  ideas  on  where  to  try  your  luck.  Trout 
fishermen  can  get  a lot  out  of  the  features  that  start  on  pages  8 and  24,  and 
page  22  holds  promise  for  smallmouth  bass  anglers.  All  boaters  ought  to 
check  out  page  12. 

This  issue’s  back  cover,  a fall  scene  from  southwest  Pennsylvania,  was 
photographed  by  Russ  Gettig. 


STATE  LIBRARY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


The  Many  Faces 

of  Conneaut  Creek 


by  Dari  Black 

One  summer  at  least  a dozen  years  ago,  so  the  story  goes,  word 
leaked  out  that  a cagey  old  angler  in  western  Crawford  County 
was  quietly  making  impressive  catches  of  big  brown  trout.  Secre- 
tive as  he  was,  the  angler  had  let  slip  that  the  fish  were  being 
caught  within  miles  of  his  home. 

Now  the  local  waterways  patrolman  (this  occurred  before  the 
designation  of  waterways  conservation  officer)  was  as  puzzled  as 
everyone  else,  especially  because  he  had  only  one  stream  section  in 
his  area  that  was  stocked  with  trout.  The  officer  was  sure  that 
hatchery  trout  of  that  size  had  not  gone  into  this  particular  creek. 

Then  one  day  while  on  patrol,  the  officer  spied  the  shrewd 
angler’s  car  parked  in  the  far  comer  of  a meadow,  partially  hidden 
by  a big  oak.  Out  of  curiosity  he  began  to  follow  an  indistinct 
path  down  a ravine  toward  a headwater  stream,  only  to  encounter 
the  angler  on  his  way  back  to  the  car  lugging  his  catch.  While 
sworn  to  secrecy  by  the  angler  on  the  exact  spot,  the  patrolman 
could  not  resist  telling  this  anecdote  as  a way  of  introducing  this 
mysterious  watershed  to  other  fishermen. 

Conneaut  Creek  is  the  name  of  that  stream.  The  waterway 
needs  no  introduction  to  the  anglers  in  the  communities  along  its 
banks.  But  for  anglers  living  as  close  as  the  other  side  of  the 
county,  Conneaut  Creek  is  overshadowed  by  several  well- 
publicized  trout  streams  in  western  Crawford  County.  Recognition 
for  Conneaut  Creek  has  been  slow. 

Besides  the  put-and-take 
hatchery  trout , Conneaut  is 
home  to  smallmouth  bass, 
muskellunge,  rock  bass  and 

catfish. 

Beginnings 

The  source  of  this  creek  lies  only  a few  miles  northeast  of 
Pymatuning  Reservoir,  where  a low-lying  ridge  separates  the  Alle- 
gheny drainage  from  the  Lake  Erie  drainage.  Over  a distance  of 
six  to  eight  miles,  several  meadow  trickles  merge  into  a brook.  By 
the  time  the  stream  reaches  Dicksonburg,  it  is  almost  too  wide  to 
step  across. 

The  stream  makes  its  way  northward  through  a wide  valley  sur- 
rounded by  rolling  farmland,  gathering  strength  from  small  tribu- 
taries. Crossing  into  Erie  County,  Conneaut  Creek  picks  up 
volume  from  the  West  Branch  just  north  of  Pennside  and  the  East 
Branch/Temple  Run  tributaries  near  Albion.  Several  miles  past 
Albion,  Conneaut  Creek  makes  a 90-degree  turn  and  heads  west 
for  the  Ohio  line. 


Between  October  and  April,  Conneaut  Creek  is  loaded  with 
steelhead  trout,  which  have  made  their  way  upstream  from 
Lake  Erie  to  spawn. 


Now  the  valley  narrows  as  the  stream  leaves  the  escarpment. 
The  stream  picks  up  speed  as  it  cuts  through  gorge-like  ravines 
into  Ohio.  Several  miles  across  the  border,  the  stream  weaves  a 
giant  horseshoe,  turning  east  and  almost  flowing  back  into  Penn- 
sylvania before  flowing  into  Lake  Erie. 

Conneaut  Creek  and  its  tributaries  comprise  a diversified  fish- 
ery. Besides  the  put-and-take  hatchery  trout,  Conneaut  is  home  to 
smallmouth  bass,  muskellunge,  rock  bass,  and  catfish.  For  those 
who  know  where  to  look,  its  headwater  branches  support  a hold- 
over brown  trout  population.  However,  steelhead  trout  have 
become  the  big  attraction  for  local  anglers. 

Although  I was  aware  of  the  existence  of  Conneaut  Creek  for  a 
long  time,  my  first  fishing  visit  to  the  stream  occurred  only  three 
years  ago  when  I was  invited  by  Ron  Devies  of  Albion  to  go  on  a 
short  float  trip.  Devies  had  grown  up  on  the  creek  and  was  well 


4 October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mike  Simmons 


Mike  Simmons 


aware  of  what  it  had  to  offer. 

Our  float  trip  from  Route  215  to  the  Covered  Bridge  on  McKee 
Road  started  out  as  a search  for  Conneaut  Creek  muskies.  Even 
though  it  was  July,  the  creek  water  was  cool  and  the  flow  rate 
strong.  The  bottom,  for  the  most  part,  was  rock,  gravel  and  sand. 
It  was  not  the  warmwater,  soft-bottom,  sluggish  farmland  creek  I 
had  envisioned. 

The  muskies  eluded  us  on  this  trip,  but  smallmouth  bass  filled 
the  gap.  Ron  explained  that  some  of  the  best  smallmouth  bass 
fishing  was  downstream  from  the  Covered  Bridge  where  the 
stream  cut  into  rock  formations.  But,  he  pointed  out, 
smallmouths  were  not  strangers  to  any  part  of  the  creek.  Return 
trips  to  the  creek  showed  that  exciting  summer  action  could  be 
enjoyed  as  far  upstream  as  Conneautville. 

It  is  Ron’s  opinion  that  Conneaut  Creek  is  the  forgotten  water- 
shed of  Pennsylvania.  “There  has  never  been  any  recreational  de- 


A noodle  rod  with  6-pound-test  line  and  salmon  egg  sacks 
for  bait  are  a good  combo.  Hooking  two  or  three  large 
grubs  on  a size  6 hook  is  also  a ticket  to  success.  Beginning 
as  early  as  September,  the  steelhead  enter  the  creek,  and 
they  remain  there  into  April  and  possibly  early  May. 


velopment  on  the  stream,  and  there  are  no  PFC-owned  access  sites 
on  the  creek.  The  mouth  of  the  stream  enters  Lake  Erie  in  Ohio, 
so  Conneaut  is  not  in  the  limelight  of  Pennsylvania’s  salmon  and 
steelhead  stocking  program. 

The  muskellunge  was  native  to  Conneaut  Creek,  but  supple- 
mental stocking  helped  meet  the  angling  pressure.  According  to 
Devies,  years  ago,  fishermen  focused  their  efforts  on  the  toothy 
critters.  The  top  weight  for  a Conneaut  Creek  musky  was  25 
pounds.  Not  a recordbook  size  as  muskies  go,  but  the  feisty  eso- 
cids  were  plentiful  in  the  section  from  Albion  to  the  Covered 
Bridge.  Muskellunge  still  survive  in  the  stream,  but  not  in  the 
numbers  of  years  ago. 

Transient  newcomer 

Today  a transient  newcomer  is  the  star  of  Conneaut  Creek. 
Between  October  and  April,  the  waterway  is  loaded  with  steelhead 
trout,  which  have  made  their  way  upstream  from  Lake  Erie  to 
spawn.  These  fish  are  the  result  of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania  stock- 
ing programs  that  were  launched  in  the  late  1970s,  using  steelhead 
stock  that  originally  came  from  the  West  Coast. 

But  what  makes  the  Conneaut  Creek  story  even  more  fascinat- 
ing is  that  native  lake-run  rainbows  were  in  the  stream  well  before 
either  Ohio  or  Pennsylvania  brought  strains  of  steelhead  rainbows 
onto  the  scene.  Pete  Stebnisky,  manager  for  the  Albion  Sports- 
men’s Club  Cooperative  Nursery,  recalls  that  his  first  encounter 
with  lake-runs  was  back  in  1955,  shortly  after  returning  home 
from  a tour  of  duty  in  Korea. 

“I  remember  local  anglers  catching  big  lake-run  rainbows  in 
Conneaut  Creek  long  before  a stocking  program  was  ever  consid- 
ered by  anyone,”  Pete  said.  “There  were  not  many  lakers  and 
the  fishery  was  a closely  guarded  secret,  but  the  fish  were  here.” 
Stebnisky  also  has  the  evidence  through  the  years  of  natural  repro- 
duction of  brown  trout  in  the  Conneaut  tributaries. 

Pete  has  been  in  charge  of  the  cooperative  hatchery  for  17  years. 
The  hatchery  annually  releases  18,000  rainbow  and  brown  trout 
into  the  Conneaut  Creek  watershed.  He  pointed  out  that  some  of 
the  rainbows  and  browns  become  lake-runners,  moving  down- 
stream to  Erie,  but  returning  to  the  Conneaut  drainage  to  spawn. 

“Conneaut  Creek  has  some  of  the  most  beautiful  water  you  will 
find  anywhere,”  Stebnisky  said.  “A  lot  of  it  isn’t  easy  to  get  to, 
which  is  one  reason  why  fishing  pressure  is  so  light.  And  the  water 
quality  is  excellent.  You  only  have  to  look  at  the  trout  that  return 
to  the  creek  to  spawn  to  understand  that.” 

The  main  stream  of  Conneaut  is  almost  70  miles  in  total  length, 
45  miles  of  which  are  in  Pennsylvania.  When  the  miles  of  tributar- 
ies are  added  to  the  main  stream  miles,  the  Conneaut  Creek  drain- 
age provides  far  greater  fishing  opportunities  than  any  other 
Pennsylvania  steelhead  stream. 

Steelhead  timetable 

Beginning  as  early  as  September,  the  steelhead  begin  to  enter 
the  lower  portion  of  Conneaut  Creek.  Their  movement  upstream 
is  influenced  by  rain  and  water  temperature.  If  the  flow  is  good, 
by  November  steelhead  can  be  sighted  moving  into  Temple  Run 
and  the  West  Branch  tributaries.  Throughout  the  winter,  if  ice 
doesn’t  cover  the  stream,  steelhead  can  be  caught  as  far  south  as 
Dicksonburg  on  the  main  stream. 

Lloyd  Bowen  and  John  Mehalko,  members  of  the  Albion 
Sportsmen’s  Club,  spend  a lot  of  time  each  winter  fishing  for  lake- 
run  trout.  Both  anglers  agree  that  Conneaut  Creek  is  not  an  easy 
stream  to  fish  for  steelhead. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


5 


“In  many  places  the  banks  are  high  and  there  is  a lot  of  brush 
along  the  stream,”  said  Lloyd.  “Many  sections  require  long  hikes 
to  reach  good  water.” 

“Because  the  drainage  area  is  large,  the  creek  level  doesn’t  drop 
quickly  following  a heavy  rain,”  commented  John,  “and  because 
Conneaut  encompasses  a lot  of  farmland,  it  clears  quickly  like  the 
other  Erie  tributaries.  It’s  hard  to  catch  the  stream  just  right.” 
Regardless  of  the  problems,  these  fishermen  find  excellent  fish- 
ing practically  in  their  backyard.  During  the  past  season,  Bowen 
caught  and  released  about  60  steelhead,  plus  a few  brown  trout  in 
the  20-inch  class.  His  largest  steelhead  was  a 31-incher  that 
weighed  10  V2  pounds.  “I  never  keep  a fish  unless  it  is  injured,” 
said  Lloyd. 

Tackle,  bait 

Bowen  uses  a noodle  rod  with  6-pound  line  and  salmon  egg 
sacks  for  bait.  Depending  on  the  water  condition,  he  may  use  a 


bobber  to  float  the  sack  or  he  may  fish  it  without  a bobber  with 
just  enough  splitshot  to  keep  it  bouncing  along  the  bottom. 

“The  basic  knowledge  of  steelhead  fishing  will  take  fish  for  you 
in  Conneaut,”  said  Mehalko.  “I  rely  on  either  salmon  eggs  or 
grubs  for  bait.  The  large  super  grubs  are  particularly  effective.  Use 
two  or  three  of  them,  just  enough  to  cover  a size  6 hook.” 

When  asked  to  pinpoint  a good  area  for  a newcomer,  both 
anglers  said  that  the  entire  main  stream  and  major  tributaries  were 
excellent.  Mehalko  stressed  the  need  to  locate  the  proper  bottom. 

“Steelhead  spawn  on  gravel.  There  is  a lot  of  it  in  the  stream, 
but  there  is  also  a lot  of  clay.  Steelhead  will  not  hold  long  on  a 
clay  bottom,”  Mehalko  said. 

“There  is  a difference  between  fishing  Conneaut  Creek  and  the 
other  Pennsylvania  Lake  Erie  tributaries,”  said  Bowen.  “On  the 
other  streams  the  water  is  shallow  and  clear.  You  can  see  the  fish 
and  target  your  cast  to  a particular  fish.  But  the  main  part  of 
Conneaut  Creek  is  too  deep  or  usually  too  discolored  to  target 


6 October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


graphic — Jennifer  Bennett 


Dart  Black 


individual  fish.  You  just  drift  your  bait  through  the  site  with  the 
expectation  that  steelhead  are  there.” 

Steelhead  remain  in  the  stream  after  spawning,  with  some  hold- 
ing over  well  into  April  and  even  May.  Opening  day  trout  anglers 
are  often  surprised  to  discover  a big  steelhead  on  the  end  of  the 
line  rather  than  a nine-inch  stocked  rainbow.  According  to  Bowen, 
lake-run  steelhead  often  stay  in  the  stream  until  the  first  warm  rain 
of  late  spring  raises  the  water  temperature.  Then  it’s  back  to  the 
lake  for  these  fish. 

Conneaut  Creek  is  a waterway  of  many  faces.  It  manages  to 
balance  the  coldwater  species  of  trout  with  the  warmwater  species 
of  smallmouth  bass  and  muskies,  while  providing  a year-round 
fishery.  If  you  are  looking  for  some  place  different  to  try,  be  sure 
to  investigate  Conneaut  Creek.  s 


The  Temple  Run  Project 

A handicapped  fishing  station,  a new  fish  ladder,  a hiking  and 
biking  trail  through  a wooded  vale,  a new  fish  hatchery  and  per- 
haps a nature  trail  for  the  handicapped — all  this  is  being  discussed 
as  part  of  the  Albion  Sportsmen’s  Club  Temple  Run  Project.  If 
completed,  it  will  be  a showcase  outdoor  recreation  area. 

Temple  Run  and  the  East  Branch  of  Conneaut  Creek  merge  just 
north  of  Albion  on  property  owned  by  the  Bessemer  Railroad. 
Back  when  Bessemer  was  at  its  peak  operation,  a small  dam  had 
been  constructed  immediately  below  the  site  where  the  tributaries 
join  to  provide  a water  supply  for  the  rail  yard.  The  Bessemer 
operation  is  no  more.  The  fish  ladder,  originally  put  in  place  on 
the  dam  by  Bessemer  to  allow  migration  of  lake-run  trout,  has 
collapsed. 

The  gravel  beds  of  Temple  Run  and  the  East  Branch  offer  some 
of  the  finest  spawning  sites  for  steelhead  trout  in  the  entire  water- 
shed. However,  with  the  ladder  down,  only  a few  steelhead  make  it 
over  the  dam. 

This  section  of  Temple  Run  has  long  been  a favorite  fishing 
spot.  But  through  the  vision  of  a few  area  sportsmen,  this  area 
may  soon  be  something  very  special.  A wide-ranging  fishery  en- 
hancement and  public  recreation  project  is  on  the  drawing  boards. 

The  Albion  Sportsmen’s  Club  is  working  on  an  agreement  with 
Bessemer  to  purchase  a 30-acre  tract  of  wooded  land  along  the 
banks  of  these  tributaries,  which  includes  the  dam  and  impound- 
ment. According  to  Pete  Stebnisky,  the  club  already  has  a commit- 
ment from  the  Fish  Commission  to  build  a new  fish  ladder  for  the 
steelhead  as  soon  as  the  club  obtains  the  land.  Stebnisky  also  sees 
the  possibility  of  expanding  the  hatchery  operations  with  this  addi- 
tional streamside  land. 

But  the  number  one  priority  for  the  club  will  be  fishing  access 
for  the  handicapped  to  the  small  impoundment  behind  the  dam. 
This  would  include  a walkway  and  platform  for  wheelchairs.  Ad- 
ditional development  may  include  trails  around  the  natural  area 
for  hiking  and  biking,  and  perhaps  one  for  wheelchairs.  Club 
members  envision  the  project  evolving  into  an  environmental  edu- 
cation area  where  school  students  can  learn  firsthand  about 
creeks,  wetlands  and  adjacent  woodlands . —Dari  Black 


Angler  Bob  Hornstrom  (right)  nervously  evaluates  the  power  of 
a nice  fish,  which  he  hooked  below  Conneaut  Creek’s  Covered 
Bridge.  Throughout  the  winter,  hard-fighting  steelhead  can  be 
caught  as  far  south  as  Dicksonburg  (Crawford  County)  on  the 

main  stream. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  7 


8 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


by  Dave  Rothrock 

Pennsylvania’s  heavily  forested  mountains 
now  shine  with  the  colors  of  the  season — 
patches  of  red,  orange  and  yellow.  Their 
hues  are  ever-changing  as  cool  breezes 
sweep  across  the  leaf-laden  treetops. 
Crisp,  clear  mornings  are  frequently 
marked  by  glistening  white  blankets  of 
frost  that  cover  fields  of  grass  and  clo- 
ver. The  sights  and  sounds  of  the  season 
make  this  an  enjoyable  time  to  be  along  a 
trout  stream. 

As  the  trout  season  progresses,  many  of 
us  find  other  activities  to  occupy  a greater 
percentage  of  our  free  time.  Whatever  the 
reason,  the  number  of  trout  anglers  along 
even  the  more  heavily  fished,  high-quality 
streams  has  diminished  so  that  you  can  ex- 
perience several  hours  to  an  entire  day  of 
solitude. 

During  the  heat  of  July  and  August 
most  fly  fishermen  have  probably  experi- 
enced their  best  success  using  terrestrial 
imitations — ants,  beetles,  crickets  and  the 
like.  After  all,  most  of  the  year’s  major 
mayfly  hatches  are  now  history. 

Most,  perhaps,  but  not  all  mayfly 
hatches  are  gone.  For  those  anglers  willing 
to  do  some  homework,  the  reward  can  be 
some  enjoyable  fishing  to  late-season  may- 
fly hatches. 

Common  names  such  as  Blue-winged 
Olive,  Blue  Quill  and  Slate  Drake  are  used 

0 to  identify  the  most  important  autumn 

1 mayflies.  If  you’re  thinking  that  these 
I names  sound  like  hatches  you’ve  encoun- 
I tered  in  April,  May  and  June,  you’re 


right.  They  are  first  cousins  of  those  ear- 
lier hatches. 

The  briskness  of  autumn  evenings  has 
helped  bring  stream  temperatures  within 
the  optimum  range  for  resident  trout. 
Their  feeding  activity  has  increased  in  re- 
sponse to  their  quickened  metabolic  rate. 
Also,  with  spawning  time  approaching, 
the  mature  trout  must  build  the  reserves 
they  need  to  carry  them  through  this 
highly  stressful  activity. 

Although  the  trout  are  active,  they  are 
far  more  stream-wise  than  they  were  when 
the  season  began  several  months  earlier. 
Those  trout  that  have  survived  have  had 
many  opportunities  to  observe  all  sorts  of 
man’s  concoctions  of  feathers,  fur  and 
synthetics.  Combine  this  with  the  idea  that 
most  of  Pennsylvania’s  mountain  streams 
are  at  their  lowest  levels,  and  it  all  adds  up 
to  some  of  the  most  challenging  fishing  of 
the  year. 

Successful  Fishing  to  autumn  mayfly 
hatches  requires  a different  strategy.  There 
are  streams  that  support  good  to  excellent 
hatches  of  early-season  mayflies.  However, 
these  streams  provide  good  fishing  to  these 
hatches  only  because  they  are  stocked  with 
hatchery-reared  trout.  By  mid-summer, 
most  of  the  hatchery  trout  are  gone.  Trout 
that  haven’t  been  harvested  may  perish 
from  high  water  temperatures  and  low  ox- 
ygen levels  unless  they  can  locate  spring 
seeps  of  the  cooler  flows  of  small,  spring- 
fed  tributary  streams.  Even  though  these 
streams  may  harbor  good  populations 
of  late-season  mayflies,  it  would  be  a 
waste  of  time  fishing  them  in  autumn 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


unless  you’re  fortunate  enough  to  have 
located  an  isolated  area  that  holds  trout  all 
season  long. 

Your  best  bet  is  to  stay  with  streams  that 
are  known  to  hold  good  populations  of 
trout,  they  usually  support  moderate  to 
large  populations  of  stream-bred  trout, 
trout,  they  usually  support  moderate  to 
larger  populations  of  stream-bred  trout, 
too.  There  are  trout  streams  open  to  late- 
season  fishing,  but  not  all  these  streams 
have  fishable  late-season  mayfly  hatches. 
By  checking  with  local  tackle  shops,  talk- 
ing with  others  who  have  fished  these 
hatches  or  by  spending  some  time  on 
various  streams  at  this  time  of  year,  you 
can  locate  hatching  mayflies  and  coop- 
erative trout. 


14  trout  in  three  hours 

A few  years  ago  I had  heard  that  Penn’s 
Creek  in  Centre  County  has  an  abundant 
hatch  of  late-season  Isonychia  mayflies, 
commonly  called  Slate  Drakes.  Last  Octo- 
ber a friend  and  I sampled  Penn’s  Creek’s 
Slate  Drake  hatch  for  the  first  time.  The 
water  was  very  low  and  1 was  amazed  at 
the  number  of  Isonychia  nymph  shucks 
on  the  exposed  rocks  along  the  shoreline. 

10  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Using  a size  12  reddish-brown  Isonychia 
nymph,  I hooked  14  trout  in  three  hours. 
Although  I didn’t  set  any  records  that  day, 
I was  satisfied  with  my  success. 

Only  recently  has  the  Isonychia’s  impor- 
tance to  fly  fishermen  been  emphasized. 
Perhaps  the  reason  is  that  under  normal 
conditions  the  nymph,  rather  than  the 
dun,  is  the  most  important  stage  of  this 
mayfly.  Found  in  the  swifter  current  areas 
of  the  stream,  these  reddish-brown 
nymphs  are  agile  swimmers  and  the  trout 
take  advantage  of  their  availability  as  they 
dart  about. 

Unlike  most  other  mayflies,  when  emer- 
gence time  nears,  Isonychia  nymphs  mi- 
grate toward  shore.  When  the  time  is  right 
they  crawl  up  and  out  of  the  water  onto 
the  exposed  side  of  rocks  and  other  debris. 
The  nymph  shuck  splits  at  the  shoulder 
and  the  freshly  emerged  dun  crawls  out, 
dries  its  wings  and  flies  off. 

Usually,  Isonychia  duns  aren’t  readily 
available  as  a food  source  to  the  trout.  But 
if  a breeze  blows  some  of  them  into  the 
stream,  the  trout  will  feed  on  them.  In 
fact,  there  aren’t  many  duns  on  the  water 
at  any  given  time,  so  a Slate  Drake  dry  fly 
can  produce  even  though  there  doesn’t 
seem  to  be  any  surface  activity. 


This  brook  trout  socked  a late-season 
reddish-brown  Isonychia  nymph.  Drift 
this  kind  of  nymph  on  the  bottom  in 
riffles,  pockets  and  through  the  heads 
of  pools. 


Fuzzy  appearance 

Isonychia  is  a large  mayfly  by  late- 
season  standards.  With  two  tails,  slate- 
colored  wings,  grayish-mahogany  body 
and  pale  hind  legs,  the  duns  are  relatively 
easy  to  identify.  Imitations  of  both 
nymphs  and  duns  are  usually  tied  on  a size 
12  hook.  Because  the  gills  of  the  nymph 
are  prominent,  imitations  should  have  a 
fuzzy  appearance. 

Fished  in  riffles,  pocket  water  and  at  the 
heads  of  pools,  the  nymphs  should  be 
drifted  right  along  the  bottom.  Allow  your 
imitation  to  drift  naturally  with  the  current 
or  twitch  it  occasionally  throughout  the 
drift  to  mimic  the  swimming  action  of 
the  natural. 

Autumn  hatches  of  Isonychia  mayflies 
can  be  found  on  both  freestone  and  lime- 
stone streams.  I have  spent  many  hours 
along  Clinton  County’s  Fishing  Creek 
pursuing  this  hatch  and  I have  found  that 


Dave  Roth  rock 


illustration—  Ted  Walke 


Only  recently  has  the  Isonychia ’s  importance  to  fly  fishermen  been  emphasized. 
Perhaps  the  reason  is  that  under  normal  conditions  the  nymph , rather  than  the 
dun , is  the  most  important  stage  of  this  mayfly. 


some  sections  may  have  abundant  popula- 
tions while  in  other  sections  they  are  too 
sparse  to  provide  good  fishing.  By  observ- 
ing shoreline  rocks,  you  can  determine 
whether  fishable  populations  of  Isonychia 
harperi  exist  on  the  streams  you  visit. 

Blue  Quills 

The  Blue  Quill  is  another  autumn  may- 
fly that  can  provide  good  fly  fishing.  Para- 
leptophlebia  debilis,  the  scholarly  name 
for  Blue  Quill,  usually  hatches  in  the  late 
morning  and  early  afternoon.  Because 
stream  flows  are  low  at  this  time  of  year, 
these  Blue  Quills  can  be  found  hatching  in 
many  different  sections  of  the  stream. 
Feeble-legged  Blue  Quill  nymphs  are  not 
good  swimmers,  and  they  are  at  the  mercy 
of  the  current  as  they  try  to  make  their 
way  to  the  surface  to  hatch.  Thus,  the 
trout  feed  heavily  on  these  nymphs.  A size 
18  tannish-brown  nymph  fished  deep  and 
without  drag  can  be  productive  an  hour  or 
so  before  the  hatch  begins. 

The  duns  of  the  late-season  Blue  Quill 
have  three  tails,  medium-gray  wings  and  a 
tannish-mahogany  body.  They  resemble 
their  early  season  cousin  so  closely  that 
the  same  dry  fly  pattern  used  in  April  can 
be  used  to  fish  this  hatch. 

Early  season  Blue  Quills  usually  com- 
pete with  other  hatches,  such  as  Quill 
Gordons  and  Hendricksons,  for  the  atten- 
tion of  the  trout.  Even  though  this  hatch 
can  be  found  on  both  freestone  and  lime- 
stone streams,  they  seem  to  favor  the  envi- 
ronment of  the  freestoners.  Big  Fishing 
Creek  in  Columbia  County  provides  good 
fishing  to  this  late-season  mayfly. 

Blue-winged  Olives 

On  Pennsylvania’s  limestone  streams 
such  as  Fishing  Creek  and  Penn’s  Creek 
and  to  a lesser  extent  on  a few  freestone 
streams  like  Slate  Run,  autumn  hatches  of 
small  Blue-winged  Olives  are  very  impor- 
tant to  fly  fishermen.  These  late-season 
hatches  are  comprised  of  species  of  Baetis 
and  Pseudocloeon.  Many  of  the  species 
making  up  the  little  Blue-winged  Olives 
are  multi-brooded,  which  means  that  they 
emerge  more  than  once  during  the  year.  It 


Blue-Winged  Olive 


Slate  Drake 


is  possible  to  find  these  mayflies  hatching 
in  April,  again  in  July  and  a third  time  in 
October. 

The  nymphs  of  the  Blue-winged  Olives 
are  usually  found  in  swifter  sections  that 
are  rich  in  vegetation.  These  nymphs  are 
good  swimmers  and  they  dart  about  in  the 
currents  in  short,  quick  dashes.  A small, 
olive-brown  nymph  fished  deep  an  hour 
before  the  hatch  begins  can  be  effective. 
When  these  nymphs  are  ready  to  emerge, 
they  swim  to  the  surface  quickly  and  then 
ride  along  in  the  surface  film  for  a dis- 
tance before  the  freshly  emerged  dun 
appears. 

The  trout  can  key  in  on  these  floating 
nymphs  to  the  exclusion  of  the  duns,  and 


it  is  much  to  an  angler’s  advantage  to  rec- 
ognize this  when  it  occurs.  Pick  out  an 
actively  feeding  trout  and  watch  it  closely. 
If  you  notice  freshly  hatched  duns  drifting 
over  the  fish  without  being  seized  but  the 
fish  continues  feeding,  a floating  nymph 
or  emerger  pattern  fished  in  the  surface 
film  should  produce  results. 


Small  stuff 

When  trout  are  gulping  Blue-winged 
Olive  duns,  a comparadun  or  a sparsely 
hackled  thorax  dun  pattern  seems  to  be 
the  most  effective.  The  late-season  Baetis 
is  usually  a size  18  or  20,  while  Pseudo- 
cloeons  are  as  small  as  size  24.  These  Blue- 
winged Olives  have  two  tails,  smoky-gray 
wings  and  body  colors  ranging  from  olive- 
brown  to  medium  to  dark  gray-olive. 

These  mayflies  are  usually  found  in 
good- numbers  and  they  are  usually  the 
=^dniy  mayflies  to  hatch  at  this  time  on  the 
streams  in  which  they  are  found.  Hatching 
_ activity  usually  occurs  from  late  morning 
tTQ  well  into  the  afternoon. 

Much  has  been  written  about  the  tiny 
Trico,  another  autumn  mayfly  found  on  a 
number  of  Pennsylvania’s  trout  streams. 
A size  24  or  26  imitation  is  called  for  when 
fishing  this  hatch.  Actually,  the  term  hatch 
is  misleading  when  you  talk  about  fishing 
Tricos.  The  spinner,  rather  than  the  dun,  is 
the  most  important  stage  of  this  mayfly. 

Of  all  the  mayfly  hatches  I have 
encountered,  the  tiny  Trico  is  the  most 
reliable.  From  around  the  middle  of  July 
until  November  these  mayflies  can  be 
counted  on  to  hatch  almost  daily.  In  au- 
tumn this  hatch  can  be  encountered  dur- 
ing the  late  morning  and  early  afternoon. 
Tricos  are  found  primarily  on  limestone 
streams  such  as  the  Little  Lehigh  Creek  in 
Lehigh  County,  Monocacy  Creek  and 
Bushkill  Creek  in  Northampton  County 
and  Falling  Spring  in  Franklin  County. 

Late-season  mayflies  can  provide  one 
more  opportunity  to  be  along  a trout 
stream  as  you  enjoy  some  solitude,  beauti- 
ful scenery,  and  most  of  all,  the  making  of 
memories  to  help  carry  you  through  until 
spring.  If  you  haven’t  experienced  fishing 
to  autumn  mayfly  hatches,  there  is  no  bet- 
ter time  to  start  than  right  now. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


11 


for  Using 
[cohol-Blended  Gasoline  in  Boats 


Alcohol,  like  gasoline,  is  a hydrocarbon 
that  can  be  burned  as  a fuel.  During  the 
world  oil  shortages  in  the  1970s,  some  oil 
companies  began  to  add  alcohol  to  gaso- 
line to  extend  the  increasingly  scarce  and 
expensive  supplies  of  crude  oil.  Alcohol 
can  be  made  from  natural  resources  in  the 
U.S.,  so  alcohol  blending  has  the  benefit 
of  reducing  our  dependence  on  foreign  oil 
during  times  of  shortages  and  high  prices. 

In  the  mid-1970s,  automakers  began  to 
use  emission  control  systems  that  could 
not  tolerate  lead.  Starting  with  the  1975 
model  year,  most  automobiles  in  the  U.S. 
were  designed  to  run  on  lead-free  gasoline. 
However,  the  elimination  of  lead  lowered 
the  octane  rating  of  the  gas  (the  ability  of 
the  gasoline  to  resist  a destructive  kind  of 
combustion  in  the  engine  known  as 
“knocking”  or  “pinging”).  Because  of  al- 
cohol’s high  octane  performance,  some  oil 
companies  began  to  experiment  with  the 
addition  of  alcohol  as  a way  to  maintain 
the  octane  rating  of  their  unleaded  gas. 

Today,  however,  most  oil  companies 
maintain  the  octane  performance  of  their 
unleaded  gas  by  adding  a non-alcohol 
compound  called  MTBE  (methyl  tertiary 
butyl  ether). 

Alcohol  and  MTBE  are  sometimes 
referred  to  as  oxygenates  because  they 
contain  a high  proportion  of  oxygen.  Tests 
have  shown  that  the  addition  of  an  oxy- 
genate to  gasoline  can  reduce  auto  exhaust 
emissions  that  cause  smog.  But  in  spite  of 
auto  emission  controls,  smog  is  again  be- 
coming an  environmental  health  problem 
in  some  parts  of  the  country.  This  has  led 
to  proposals  for  state  and  municipal  laws 
mandating  the  use  of  alcohol-blended  gas- 
oline (or  other  oxygenate  blends)  in  high- 
smog  areas. 

Types  of  alcohol  blends 

Methanol  is  methyl  alcohol.  It  can  be 
made  from  a number  of  natural  resources 
such  as  coal  and  natural  gas.  In  1985, 
methanol  blends  accounted  for  approxi- 
mately 2 percent  of  the  gasoline  sold  in  the 
U.S.  The  U.S.  Environmental  Protection 
Agency  (EPA)  restricts  the  total  amount  of 


methanol  that  may  be  blended  in  unleaded 
gas  to  5 percent  (plus  EPA  requires  that 
other  additives  known  as  cosolvents  ac- 
company the  methanol). 

Ethanol  is  a form  of  grain  alcohol.  It 
can  be  produced  by  fermenting  crops  such 
as  com,  wheat,  rice  or  sugar  cane.  In 
1985,  ethanol  blends  (often  referred  to  as 
“gasohol”)  accounted  for  approximately  8 
percent  of  the  gasoline  sold  in  the  U.S. 
Although  more  expensive  to  produce  than 
methanol,  government  agricultural  subsi- 
dies and  tax  rebates  allow  ethanol  blenders 
to  sell  gasohol  at  very  competitive  prices, 
particularly  when  oil  prices  are  high.  EPA 
restricts  the  total  amount  of  ethanol  in  ga- 
sohol blends  to  10  percent. 

In  1986,  sales  of  alcohol  blends  began 
to  decline.  Today,  methanol  blends  have 
disappeared  from  the  marketplace,  and 
the  sale  of  ethanol  blends  has  decreased 
sharply  except  in  some  farm  states  such  as 
Alabama,  Kentucky,  Michigan,  Minne- 
sota, Nebraska,  Texas,  ana  Virginia.  How- 
ever, future  oil  shortages,  higher  oil  prices 
or  environmental  concerns  with  air  quality 
could  provide  a renewed  market  for 
alcohol-blended  gasoline  in  many  parts  of 
the  country. 

Safety  concern 

Claims  regarding  the  effects  of  alcohol- 


blended  gasoline  can  be  confusing.  Labo- 
ratory “soak  tests”  have  shown  that 
common  fuel  system  parts,  particularly 
rubber  fuel  hose,  deteriorate  faster  in 
alcohol  blends  than  in  normal  unleaded 
gasoline.  But  the  data  does  not  predict  any 
actual  failure  rate. 

Some  of  these  tests  have  used  relatively 
high  concentrations  of  alcohol  that  would 
be  illegal  to  sell  in  today’s  unleaded  gaso- 
line. Also,  fleet  tests  (typically,  two  years 
and  50,000  miles),  with  late-model  cars  us- 
ing commercially  available  alcohol  blends, 
have  shown  no  safety  problems. 

A recent  U.S.  Environmental  Protec- 
tion Agency  report  puts  the  issue  in  this 
perspective:  Current  “low-level”  blends 
(not  exceeding  EPA  limits)  should  pose  no 
safety  problems  in  modem  fuel  systems. 
However,  there  is  a possibility  that  sus- 
tained use  of  alcohol  blends  in  older  fuel 
systems  may  cause  problems  (mainly,  fuel 
tank  corrosion  and  fuel  hose  leaks).  The 
exact  severity  of  the  problem  is  not  well- 
defined  or  predicted. 

Because  there  is  inconclusive  evidence 
on  the  long-term  effects  of  alcohol  blends, 
particularly  in  boat  fuel  systems,  the  Coast 
Guard  still  advises  the  boater  to  use  cau- 
tion in  their  use.  The  two  possible  effects 
of  most  concern  to  boaters  are  fuel  hose 
deterioration  and  fuel  tank  corrosion. 


12  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Art  Micnaels 


Fuel  hose  leaks,  permeation 

Alcohol  is  a solvent.  Lab  tests  on  rub- 
ber fuel  hose  indicate  that  alcohol  blended 
in  gasoline  tends  to  dissolve  certain  ele- 
ments in  the  rubber,  called  plasticizers.  In 
the  real  world,  this  deterioration  may  take 
place  very  slowly,  possibly  over  many 
years.  The  effect  is  to  reduce  the  elasticity 
of  the  hose  and  make  it  brittle  and  more 
prone  to  cracking.  Or  if  the  hose  is  always 
full  and  in  constant  contact  with  fuel,  the 
effect  may  be  to  soften  the  hose  to  the 
point  at  which  gasoline  seeps  through  the 
hose.  This  is  called  permeation.  Lab  tests 
indicate  that  these  harmful  effects  are  par- 
ticularly noticeable  in  blends  in  which  the 
concentration  of  alcohol  exceeds  10  per- 
cent, and  particularly  in  blends  with  high 
levels  of  methanol,  which  is  a stronger  sol- 
vent than  ethanol. 

Fuel  tank  corrosion 

Alcohol  has  a strong  affinity  for  water. 
Under  the  right  circumstances,  alcohol 
dissolved  in  gasoline  comes  out  of  solution 
and  combines  instead  with  water.  Because 
boat  fuel  systems  are  open  to  the  atmo- 
sphere (through  vent  lines),  moist  air  from 
the  marine  environment  can  condense  and 
deposit  water  inside  the  fuel  tank.  If 
enough  water  collects  in  an  alcohol  blend 
over  a period  of  time  (boat  laid-up  or  used 
infrequently),  it  can  pull  the  alcohol  out  of 
solution  with  the  gas  and  form  a separate 
water/alcohol  mixture  that  settles  to  the 
bottom  of  the  tank.  This  is  called  phase 
separation. 

Phase  separation  may  occur  more  likely 
in  blends  with  high  concentrations  of 
methanol  because  methanol  combines 
with  water  more  readily  than  ethanol.  For 
this  reason,  EPA  requires  methanol  blends 
to  have  what  are  known  as  cosolvents.  Co- 
solvents help  keep  the  methanol  in  solu- 
tion with  the  gasoline. 

Phase  separation  is  dangerous  because 
it  can  accelerate  corrosion  of  the  tank  bot- 
tom and  may  cause  serious  fuel  leaks.  It  is 
particularly  dangerous  in  fuel  tanks  made 
of  a coated  metal  called  “teme  plate,”  be- 
cause these  fuel  tanks  can  rust  very 
quickly.  Teme  plate  fuel  tanks  are  now 
prohibited  by  Coast  Guard  regulations, 
but  they  were  sometimes  used  in  boats 
manufactured  before  the  1978  model  year. 

Recognizing  alcohol  blends 

Today,  nearly  all  states  require  a label  on 
the  retail  gas  pump  if  it  dispenses  gasoline 
containing  alcohol  above  a trace  amount 
(usually  1 percent).  The  wording  and  ap- 
pearance of  the  label  may  vary  from  state 


to  state,  but  at  a minimum  it  discloses  that 
the  gasoline  contains  alcohol  and  the  type 
of  alcohol  (ethanol  is  sometimes  labeled 
“gasohol”). 

In  many  states,  the  maximum  percent 
of  alcohol  may  also  be  shown  on  the  la- 
bel. EPA  regulations  currently  limit  alco- 
hol blending  in  unleaded  gasoline  to  10 
percent  ethanol  or  5 percent  methanol. 
The  methanol  blends  are  required  to  have 
additional  cosolvents.  The  following  juris- 
dictions had  no  label  requirements:  Al- 
abama, District  of  Columbia,  Hawaii, 
New  Jersey,  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Texas. 

Test  kits  designed  to  be  used  by  the  con- 
sumer are  available  at  many  boat  dealers 
and  marine  supply  houses.  The  kits, 
which  are  relatively  inexpensive  and  easy 
to  use,  let  you  test  a small  sample  of  gas  to 
see  if  it  contains  any  alcohol.  Some  of  the 
more  sophisticated  kits  disclose  the  per- 
centage and  type  of  alcohol. 

The  risks  in  perspective 

Here  are  some  of  the  things  a boat 
owner  can  do  to  minimize  risks  if  he  de- 
cides to  use  alcohol-blended  gasoline. 

• Inspect  fuel  hoses.  A fuel  hose  that  ex- 
hibits any  of  the  following  signs  should  be 
replaced  as  soon  as  possible:  hoses  that  are 
hard  and  brittle,  or  which  show  cracks;  or 
hoses  that  feel  soft  or  mushy  when 
squeezed. 

• Retrofit  new  hoses.  The  Coast  Guard 
has  developed  specifications  for  a new 
type  of  fuel  hose  that  is  more  resistant  to 
alcohol  blends.  The  use  of  this  hose  was 
mandatory  for  boat  manufacturers  start- 
ing in  November  1987,  and  many  manu- 
facturers began  voluntarily  using  the  new 
hose  as  soon  as  it  became  available  early 
in  1986.  Boat  owners  are  encouraged  to 
retrofit  the  new  hose  even  if  they  own 
boats  with  hoses  that  meet  the  old  Coast 
Guard  standard  (hose  marked  SAE  J30 
USCG  Type  A or  Type  B),  and  particu- 
larly if  a boat  was  built  before  the  1978 
model  year,  when  the  Coast  Guard  fuel 
system  standard  first  went  into  effect.  The 
new  hose  bears  the  marking  SAE  J1527 
and  a USCG  type  designation. 

There  are  four  types  of  J1527  hose 
(USCG  Type  Al,  A2,  Bl,  and  B2).  Manu- 
facturers may  use  the  different  grades  de- 
pending on  where  in  the  fuel  system  the 
hose  is  located.  For  the  purpose  of  owner 
retrofit,  the  simplest  procedure  is  to  use 
hose  marked  J1527  USCG  Type  Al.  Type 
Al  is  the  highest  performance  hose  with 
the  best  resistance  to  alcohol  blends. 

• Inspect  fuel  tanks.  To  the  extent  possi- 


ble, owners  should  periodically  inspect  the 
exterior  of  fuel  tanks  for  signs  of  corro- 
sion, pitting  and  leakage.  If  you  store  your 
boat  in  or  near  the  water  during  the  win- 
ter, you  may  want  to  take  extra  precautions 
to  be  sure  that  the  gasoline  does  not  con- 
tain alcohol.  The  ability  of  alcohol  to  stay 
in  solution  with  gasoline  decreases  as  the 
temperature  decreases,  so  the  possibility  of 
phase  separation  is  much  greater  during 
the  winter  “lay-up”  months. 

• Beware  of  leaded  gasoline.  The  U.S. 
Environmental  Protection  Agency  controls 
the  use  of  additives  in  unleaded  gasoline 
because  of  the  possible  effects  they  may 
have  on  auto  exhaust  emissions.  As  previ- 
ously noted,  EPA  currently  limits  alcohol 
in  unleaded  gasoline  to  10  percent  ethanol 
or  5 percent  methanol  with  cosolvents. 
There  are  no  restrictions,  however,  on  how 
much  alcohol  can  be  mixed  in  leaded 
gasoline. 

Boaters  should  be  particularly  cautious 
about  using  leaded  alcohol  blends  until 
the  actual  percent  alcohol  can  be  deter- 
mined. Keep  in  mind  that  lab  tests  indicate 
that  the  effects  of  alcohol  increase  signifi- 
cantly when  the  alcohol  concentrations  ex- 
ceed 10  percent,  most  particularly  with 
methanol. 

• Check  your  boat  manufacturer 
warranty.  Starting  with  the  1987  model 
year,  some  boat  and  engine  manufacturers 
began  to  redesign  their  fuel  systems  to  be 
more  compatible  with  alcohol  blends.  Be- 
fore that,  most  boat  manufacturers  ad- 
vised against  the  use  of  alcohol  blends  in 
their  products,  and  some  warned  that  use 
of  alcohol  blends  could  void  the  warranty. 
So  before  you  use  alcohol-blended  gaso- 
line in  your  boat,  check  your  owner’s 
manual  for  manufacturer  restrictions  or 
limitations. 

Consumer  complaints  about 
gasoline  quality 

State  weights  and  measures  offices  en- 
force quality  standards  for  many  kinds  of 
consumer  goods  and  services,  including 
gasoline.  Consumers  w'ho  experience  prob- 
lems in  the  operation  of  their  boats  that 
they  think  are  caused  by  the  gasoline  they 
are  using  should  contact  the  nearest 
weights  and  measures  office.  Boaters  can 
call  the  Coast  Guard’s  toll-free  Boating 
Safety  Hotline  (88-5647)  to  get  a referral 
to  the  appropriate  point  of  contact  in 
Pennsylvania.  [77] 


This  information  is  provided  by  the  U.S. 
Coast  Guard  Office  of  Boating,  Public, 
and  Consumer  Affairs. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


13 


w1 

<2 

p*  ]r 

1 

by  Steve  Ulsh 

0. 


O 


Fins,  Shapes,  Spots, 
Stripes  and  Tails 

No,  it  isn’t  the  name  of  a law  firm.  These  are  some  of 
the  ways  you  can  identify  fish.  Many  people  believe 
that  color  is  the  truest  way  to  tell  one  fish  from  an- 
other, but  the  best  way  is  to  “key  out”  and  use  a 
combination  of  clues.  Biologists  use  these  because 
the  color  of  the  fish  can  change  due  to  food,  water 
quality  and  the  habitat,  or  place,  in  which  it  lives.  In 
looking  over  your  next  catch,  take  note  of  some  of 
these  basic  characteristics  or  “fish  clues.”  They  can 
help  you  identify  your  next  catch. 

Fins 

Members  of  the  sunfish  and  perch  families  have 
spiny  rays,  or  sharp  edges,  on  their  dorsal  fins.  Trout, 
muskellunge  and  minnows  have  no  sharp  edges,  so 
they  are  called  soft-rayed  fish.  Catfish,  however,  have 
a sharp  bone  in  some  of  their  fins.  Many  anglers  are 
afraid  to  take  catfish  off  their  hooks.  They’ve  either 
been  “stung”  by  the  sharp  spines  of  the  catfish  or 
heard  that  catfish  spines  are  dangerous. 

Examples: 

Trout  Bass  or  bluegills  Catfish 


Shapes 

In  Pennsylvania,  fish  usually  fall  into  three  general 
shapes.  Bluegills,  crappies  and  perch  tend  to  be 
somewhat  flat  or  compressed.  They  look  like  they’ve 
been  squeezed  on  each  side.  Catfish,  on  the  other 
hand,  look  like  they  are  depressed  or  squeezed  from 
the  top.  Eels  look  like  they  have  been  stretched.  The 
biological  term  for  this  is  attenuated ( at  ten’  u a ted). 
Examples: 

Compressed  Depressed  Attenuated 


Spots 

Spots  can  be  light  or  dark,  but  depending  on  where 
they  are  located,  they  can  be  good  clues  to  identifying 
a fish.  The  brook  trout  has  red  spots  with  blue  rims. 
On  hatchery  fish,  they  are  usually  faded.  Native 
brookies  have  spots  that  are  quite  colorful.  A male 
bowfin  has  a large  dark  spot  on  its  tail.  Hundreds  of 
small  back  spots  above  the  lateral  line  and  over  the 
entire  tail  are  characteristic  of  the  rainbow  trout.  Bean- 
shaped spots  along  its  sides  are  good  keys  to  identify- 
ing a northern  pike. 

Examples: 

Bowfin  Rainbow  trout  Northern  pike 


* A ' <2>  * 


® ' © * 


© 


Vertical  (up  and  down)  and  horizontal  (head  to  tail) 
stripes  have  helped  many  anglers  and  biologists  iden- 
tify fish.  Stripes  can  range  from  the  single  greenish- 
black  horizontal  line  of  the  largemouth  bass  to  the  six 
or  seven  green  stripes  of  the  yellow  perch.  Purebred 
striped  bass  have  six  or  seven  unbroken  black  hori- 
zontal lines.  Its  close  relative,  the  striped  bass/white 
bass  hybrid,  has  broken  lines  along  its  sides. 

Examples: 

Largemouth  bass  Yellow  perch  Striper  hybrid 


Tails  * # * 

Tails  can  be  dead  giveaways  in  identifying  some 
fish  by  themselves  or  telling  the  difference  between 
two  closely  related  species.  The  tail  of  a sturgeon  is 
long  and  slender  like  a shark’s.  A lake  trout  has  a 
deeply  forked  tail,  while  its  cousin  the  brook  trout  has 
one  that  is  more  square-shaped.  Channel  catfish  as 
youngsters  have  deeply  forked  tails,  but  this  fork  be- 
comes less  noticeable  as  it  grows. 

Examples:  Channel 

Sturgeon  Lake  trout  ^ ■/  catfish 


There  are  other  ways  of  identifying  fish,  such  as 
mouth,  skeleton,  numbers  of  spines  and  rays  in  fins, 
size  and  at  times,  color.  If  you’re  going  to  be  a good 
angler-biologist  or  just  plain  fish  finder,  you  should  use 
all  the  clues  you  can  in  “keying  out”  one  fish  from 
another. 


14  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration — Ted  Walke 


Joe  McDonald 


Stalkers  of  the  Dark  Retreat 

by  Joe  McDonald 


Salamanders.  To  the  ancients,  they  were 
mythical  creatures  capable  of  enduring 
fire.  To  present-day  man,  they  are  insignif- 
icant little  animals  barely  worth  a passing 
thought.  Slimy-skinned,  nondescript  and 
dark,  reclusive  denizens  of  unpleasant 
places,  they  are  animals  that  are  easily 
overlooked  and  poorly  understood. 

A diverse  group,  the  salamanders.  A 
description  of  their  colors  and  physical 
characteristics  would  span  this  page. 
Those  colors — bright  orange,  black, 
yellow-spotting  black,  black-spotting  yel- 
low, red,  brown,  tan,  cream— may  drably 
blend  with  their  environment  or  impro- 
bably leap  out  from  their  surroundings. 
Their  adaptations — lungs,  lungless,  gilled, 


dry-skinned,  stickily  slimy,  agile  climbers, 
adept  swimmers — are  diverse  and  success- 
ful. These  adaptations  echo  much  of  the 
history  of  the  early  vertebrates.  In  fact, 
they,  or  something  like  them,  were  the  pio- 
neers of  terrestrial  life,  exploring  the  damp 
Paleozoic  swamplands  on  thick  legs  in 
their  quest  to  survive.  They  have  done  so 
admirably. 

Twenty-one  species  inhabit  the  Keystone 
State,  ranging  from  the  stony  bottoms 
of  the  largest  rivers  to  the  limestone  out- 
croppings of  our  highest  ridges.  One,  the 
red-backed,  may  be  the  most  abun- 
dant vertebrate  within  our  deciduous 
forests,  found  under  virtually  every  rock 
or  fallen  log. 


As  a young  boy,  flipping  over  a flat  slab 
of  slate  in  a precious  quarter-acre  woodlot 
garden  of  poison  ivy,  maple,  and  briar,  I’d 
uncover  a half-dozen  of  these  little  sala- 
manders in  an  afternoon’s  search.  Bul- 
bous black  eyes  would  mirror  my  own 
wide  blues  as  I raptly  gazed  at  the  wet- 
skinned creatures  cradled  in  my  hand. 
With  vibrating  folds  near  their  throats  and 
pepper-flecked  bodies,  the  little  red-backs 
stalked  my  small  terrariums  on  improbable 
tiny  legs.  These  salamanders  were  my  di- 
nosaurs, my  window  into  the  past  and 
my  doorway  into  an  exciting,  hidden 
world  of  nature. 

Like  the  dinosaurs,  my  neighborhood 
woodlot  is  now  gone,  supplanted  by  a 


16  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Joe  McDonald 


Above  is  a red-spotted  newt  (main 
photo).  Inset  at  left  is  a marbled  sala- 
mander. Inset  above  is  a tiger  salamander 
in  the  middle  of  a meal.  Pennsylvania  is 
home  to  21  species  of  salamanders. 


suburban  playground  in  a growing  neigh- 
borhood. Kids  still  cross  the  ground  I 
found  so  fascinating,  but  whether  they 
find  their  more  manicured  world  as  excit- 
ing, as  filled  with  wondrous  discoveries,  I 
can  only  guess.  My  red-backs  are  gone. 

Fortunately,  in  less-crowded  areas,  in 
woodlots,  forests,  and  on  poorly  attended 
lawns  or  gardens,  the  red-backed  still 
thrives.  It  doesn’t  ask  for  much.  Unlike 
many  other  amphibians,  the  ancestors  of 
the  red-back  have  liberated  themselves 
from  a strict  dependency  on  water.  The 
red-back  breeds  on  land.  Three  to  15  tiny 
eggs,  sheathed  inside  a membrane  like  a 
sack  of  grapes,  are  deposited  inside  a 
damp  hollow  log,  or  tucked  in  a moist  de- 


pression beneath  a rock.  The  young,  like 
the  egg-borne  young  of  reptiles  and  birds, 
hatch  as  tiny  miniatures  of  the  adults.  Like 
the  most  admired  bird,  the  mother  sala- 
mander guards  and  attends  her  eggs,  des- 
erting them  only  on  hatching. 

The  name  red-backed  is  a misnomer,  at 
least  in  about  50  percent  of  the  popula- 
tion. Half  an  area’s  red-backs  are  black, 
with  no  trace  or  hint  of  red.  Regardless,  all 
red-backs  have  tiny  flecks  of  white  or  gray 
peppering  their  sides  and  tails,  and  pale- 
gray  bellies.  Identification  is  easy. 


As  kids,  my  friends  and  I spent  many  a 
summer  evening  on  salamander  safaris,  as 
we  flipped  and  replaced  rocks  and  logs, 


seeking  out  our  salamanders.  Occasion- 
ally, on  steep  precipitous  slopes  overlook- 
ing the  eroding  banks  of  Jordan  Creek, 
we’d  discover  a trophy. 

The  memories  are  vivid  still.  At  the  sud- 
den flash  of  daylight  on  its  dark  retreat,  a 
thick-bodied,  fast-moving  black  form 
darted  for  shelter.  If  we  reacted  as  quickly, 
our  small  hands  would  bunch  around  a 
writhing  slick  tube,  so  slippery  that 
it  took  both  hands  to  control  our 
prize — appropriately  known  as  the  slimy 
salamander. 

The  slimy  salamander  looks  remotely 
like  a grown-up  version  of  the  lead-phase 
red-backed,  and  this  salamander  belongs 
to  the  same  genus.  The  pepper  flecks  are 
absent,  replaced  by  dots  of  white  against  a 
solid  black  background.  Nearly  twice  as 
long  and  three  times  the  girth,  the  slimy 
salamander  is  protected  by  a glutinous 
fluid  that  first  lubricates,  then  congeals  on 
the  fingers.  Dry,  it  feels  like  tar  and  is  as 
difficult  to  scrub  off.  You  knew  when  you 
had  handled  a slimy. 

It  takes  a little  skill  to  handle  any  sala- 
mander correctly.  Pinched  or  grabbed 
roughly,  their  fragile  tails  snap  free.  A 
dismembered  tail  writhes,  wiggling  around 
itself,  grabbing  your  attention.  It’s  meant 
to,  for  a predator  grabbing  a tail  may  be 
distracted  as  the  salamander  slinks 
to  safety. 

Salamander  species  share  this  adapta- 
tion. The  little  four-toed  salamander  car- 
ries it  to  extremes.  Four-toeds  have  a fine 
groove  encircling  the  base  of  their  tails,  a 
fragile  joint  that  can  break  at  the  slightest 
pressure.  Four-toeds  are  uncommon;  for- 
tunately, I didn’t  see  one  until  I was  old 
enough,  and  sufficiently  informed,  to 
know  to  scoop  the  three-inch  critter  gently 
as  it  lay  on  some  floating  leaves  at  its 
breeding  pond. 

Unless  you  observe  carefully,  I guess 
many  salamanders  look  alike.  The  four- 
toed  certainly  resembles  a red-phase  red- 
backed,  until  the  toes  are  counted  or  the 
constricted  tail  is  discovered.  However,  the 
belly  is  a striking,  gleaming  white  with 
flecks  of  black,  making  the  salamander 
unmistakable. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


The  Jefferson  salamander  is  one  of  Penn- 
sylvania’s largest,  attaining  an  adult  size 
of  four  to  seven  inches. 


Like  red-backs,  four-toeds  lay  their  eggs 
on  land,  choosing  wet  sphagnum  moss 
overhanging  quiet  pools.  Their  young 
hatch  as  larvae  that  drop  or  slither  into  the 
water,  where  they  complete  a metamor- 
phosis like  any  tadpole.  r ^3 


Sphagnum  moss  and  quiet  woodland 
pools,  the  habitat  of  the  four-toed,  is  the 
haunt  of  this  salamander  seeker  on  a cool, 
damp  April  night.  Armed  with  headlamp 
and  nylon  dip  net,  1 slogged  along  the 
edges  of  a mucky  pool  seeking  its  hidden 
mysteries.  One,  specifically,  draws  me  here 
each  year. 

In  spring,  after  the  first  warm  rains  un- 
lock the  frost-solid  mountain  soil,  quiet 
pools  may  seethe  with  the  combined  activ- 
ity of  one  of  the  largest  salamanders  in 
Pennsylvania.  My  headlight  beam  scans 
the  blackness,  piercing  the  clear,  decep- 
tively deep  pools,  reflecting  brightly  off 
the  slick,  wet  leaves  that  carpet  the  shore- 
line. 

I hear  a pop  and  turn  to  see  a gray- 
white  form  v g!e  toward  the  bottom.  It  is 


lost  in  the  leaf  litter.  I wait  and  my  eyes 
adjust  to  the  darkness,  to  the  confusing 
myriad  shapes  of  poorly  illuminated  twigs 
and  leaves — and  salamanders. 

Like  a wraith,  a six-inch  salamander 
materializes,  taking  form  out  of  the  black- 
ness. Within  the  cast  of  my  light,  the  yel- 
low spots  practically  glow,  reminding  me 
of  ship  portholes  in  the  night.  Eventually  I 
spot  another  and  another  and  as  my 
search  intensifies,  I discover  dozens  more. 
Suddenly,  the  black  pool  seems  filled  with 
spots,  with  salamanders. 

For  the  salamander-watcher,  the  spotted 
is  an  exciting  highpoint  in  a season  that 
has  only  begun.  Spotteds  breed  early;  only 
the  Jeffersons  start  earlier.  Sometimes 
skeins  of  ice  line  the  shorelines  of  their 
ponds  at  dawn,  should  the  weather  turn 
chilly  after  their  migration  has  begun. 
And  a migration  it  is. 

One  thinks  of  robins  or  arctic  terns,  car- 
ibou or  African  wildebeest,  salmon  or 
shad,  gray  whales  or  locusts,  when  pon- 
dering migration.  Though  the  distances 
traveled  are  small  compared  to  these  more 
illustrious  animals,  these  quiet,  lowly  sala- 
manders do  migrate.  In  certain  ponds, 
along  rural  lanes  only  a few  decades  past, 
they  migrated  by  the  hundreds,  perhaps 


thousands,  greasing  the  roads  with  the 
bodies  of  the  car-struck.  Each  spring,  with 
the  first  warm  rains,  the  salamanders 
would  trace  ancestral  routes,  following  the 
moisture  gradients  downward  to  the  pools 
and  ponds  where  they  would  breed.  r^3 


The  big  spotted  salamander  fulfills  one’s 
idea  of  the  classic  amphibian.  Amphibian 
literally  means  “two  lives,”  and  refers  to 
the  two  distinct  stages  of  the  typical  life 
cycle.  As  adults,  the  spotted  salamander  is 
terrestrial,  breathing  by  lungs  and  requir- 
ing water  only  in  sufficient  quantities  to 
keep  its  smooth  skin  moist.  To  breed,  they 
return  to  the  water,  where  their  eggs  are 
laid  and  their  larvae  hatch  to  breathe  via 
external  gills  and  to  swim  by  a laterally 
compressed  tail. 

As  spring  turns  into  summer,  as  the 
snow-melt-filled  ponds  recede  and  the 
concentration  of  dissolved  stilts  intensifies, 
the  growing  larvae  change.  The  feathery 
gills  are  reabsorbed,  the  thin,  nearly  func- 
tionless legs  grow  stronger,  and  the  broad, 
swimming  tail  thickens  and  grows  rounder 
as  the  animal  prepares  itself  for  a life 
on  land. 

The  spotted’s  life  on  land  might  be  con- 
sidered a boring  one.  These  are  burrowers, 
belonging  to  a group  collectively  known  as 
mole  salamanders.  Like  that  mammal,  the 
salamander  spends  most  of  its  time  be- 
neath the  ground,  in  burrows,  or  working 
its  way  through  the  leaf  litter  in  search  of 
worms.  Oddly,  some  of  the  most  colorful 
North  American  salamanders  belong  to 
this  group.  In  Pennsylvania,  the  group  is 
represented  by  the  tiger,  yellow-blotched 
and  huge,  up  to  13  inches,  and  the  five- 
inch-long  marbled,  marked  vividly  in  bars 
of  white.  A fourth,  the  reclusive  Jefferson, 
sports  colors  more  appropriate  for  the  life 
of  a burrower.  It  is  gray-black,  devoid  of 
any  brightly  colored  spots. 


One  has  to  ask  why.  Why  sport  such  vivid 
colors  in  an  animal  that  so  rarely  sees  the 
light  of  day?  Opinions  vary,  but  perhaps 
the  answer  lies  in  the  impression  those 
breeding  spotteds  made  on  me,  appearing 
like  the  bright  portholes  of  ships  in  the 
night.  Could  the  bright  colors  serve  as  vis- 
ual beacons,  spots  of  color  against  the 
darkness  of  their  ponds,  increasing  the 
possibility  of  breeding?  Perhaps. 

Although  they  breed  in  water,  the  mole 
salamanders  have  refined  aquatic  repro- 
duction. Unlike  fish  and  frogs  and  toads 
that  release  sperm  and  eggs  into  the  water 
and  rely  on  the  sheer  numbers  of  each  to 
ensure  propagation,  the  moles  come  closer 


18  October 


Pennsylvania  Angler 


Joe  McDonaid 


qraphics  bv  Terl  WatUo 


to  the  refinement  of  internal  fertilization. 
Males,  stimulated  by  bizarre  courtship 
“dances,”  in  which  dozens  join  together 
in  a swirling  dervish,  release  cottony  pack- 
ets of  sperm  upon  the  pool  bottom.  These 
spermatophores  are  then  collected  and 
drawn  in  by  the  female’s  cloaca,  where  fer- 
tilization occurs  internally. 

Though  the  spotted  is  among  the  first 
to  breed  in  Pennsylvania’s  vernal  ponds, 
its  larvae  are  not  the  first  to  greet  the 
spring.  In  fall,  the  smaller  marbled  sala- 
manders migrate  to  the  dry  pond  beds  to 
breed.  There  they  mate  and  lay  eggs, 
which  will  be  covered  by  water  when,  or  if, 
heavy  fall  rains  arrive.  The  larvae  hatch, 
overwinter,  and  greet  the  first  spotted  sala- 
manders in  spring. 

Although  their  natural  history  isn’t 
completely  understood,  it’s  thought  that 
Jefferson  salamanders  combine  the  adap- 
tations of  both  the  marbled  and  spotted. 
These  eight-inch  salamanders  may  arrive 
in  autumn  and  overwinter,  breeding 
shortly  after  the  ponds  thaw  in  spring. 
Certainly,  observing  a Jefferson’s  popping 
to  the  surface  for  a breath  of  air  weeks 
before  the  ponds  will  greet  their  kin  give 
credence  to  the  hypothesis. 

Perhaps  because  of  their  drab  gray- 
black  appearance,  the  Jefferson  is  one  of 
the  few  salamanders  whose  name  fails  to 
describe  some  salient  feature  of  their  natu- 
ral history.  Only  the  similarly  drab  Weh- 
rle’s  sports  a human  surname.  Some 
salamanders  are  named  for  their  habitats. 
Consider  the  Allegheny  Mountain  sala- 
mander, abundant  along  the  high  country 
of  that  plateau,  or  the  ravine  salamander, 
an  inhabitant  of  steep  hillsides.  Spring  sal- 
amanders, of  rills  and  springs,  and 
similar-looking  mud  salamanders  of  slow, 
thick  creeks,  can  be  distinguished  almost 
as  easily  by  habitat  as  by  their  physical 
differences. 

Others  are  named  for  their  colors  or 
patterns.  Northern  two-lined,  long-tailed, 
green,  northern  red,  the  familiar  red- 
backed,  it  takes  little  imagination  to  guess 
their  owner’s  appearance.  These  sala- 
manders, whose  vivid  patterns  evoked 
their  names,  are  indeed  among  our  most 
colorful. 

Few  could  deny  the  striking  beauty  of 
the  bright-yellow  long-tailed  salamander, 
especially  when  seen  for  the  fust  time  un- 
expectedly uncovered  beneath  a stone  slab 
on  the  banks  of  a sandy  creek.  Slender 
but  heavy-headed,  they  seem  even  longer 
than  their  seven-inch  length.  r 


Northern  red  salamanders  produce  a simi- 


lar response.  Bright  orange-red,  their  col- 
ors seem  incongruous  with  their  habits,  as 
would  a cardinal  that  visits  a bird  feeder 
by  night.  Perhaps  because  they  are  striking 
I have  discovered  reds  as  frequently  wan- 
dering on  the  ground  as  hidden  beneath  a 
shelter.  On  a few  wet,  overcast  days  in  the 
Poconos  or  Allegheny  highlands,  I’ve 
been  surprised  to  find  these  plump  sala- 
manders sitting  on  beds  of  moss. 

By  virtue  of  their  color,  northern  reds 
vaguely  resemble  another  conspicuous 
denizen  of  the  forest  floor,  the  red  eft.  Few 
animals  as  docile  in  appearance  and  as 
harmless  are  so  noticeable.  An  eft’s  color- 
ation is  so  vivid  and  vibrant  that  a keen- 
eyed observer  can  spot  a motionless 
four-inch  eft  at  20  yards.  Few  predators 
would  fail  to  notice  an  eft  slowly  meander- 
ing across  a forest  floor  after  a summer 
thunderstorm.  They  are  conspicuous  and 
easy  prey.  So  what  advantage  could  their 
vivid  coloration  serve? 

The  answer  is  a simple,  if  incredible 
one.  It  serves  as  protection.  Efts  possess 
toxic  skin  glands,  similar  to  toads,  which 
make  them  unpalatable  to  most  predators. 
Biting  one,  many  predators  immediately 
expel  it,  sometimes  with  little  injury  to  the 
eft.  After  a few  attempts,  most  predators 
shun  efts  and  let  them  be.  Their  vivid  or- 
anges, reds  or  scarlets  ensure  that  these 
easily  noticed  efts  are  not  mistaken  and 
killed  for  a more  tasty  variety  of  salaman- 
der. In  good  habitat,  on  a warm,  rainy 
day,  the  success  of  this  adaptation  is  under- 
scored by  their  sheer  abundance.  r^3 


One  has  to  hunt  Pennsylvania’s  waterways 
to  discover  our  two  largest  salamander  va- 
rieties. Both  dwarf  their  terrestrial  cousins, 
and  each  possesses  a name  that  reflects  its 
size  and  oddity.  The  smaller  of  the  two  is 
the  conspicuously  gilled  mudpuppy,  a 
mere  17  inches  long.  Entirely  aquatic, 
mudpuppies  spend  the  day  beneath  flat 
rocks,  logs  and  other  shelters.  At  night 
they  stalk  slow-moving  streams  for  insects, 
crayfish  and  other  aquatic  invertebrates. 

The  very  name  “Hellbender”  evokes 
unpleasantness,  and  the  largest  salaman- 
der in  Pennsylvania  has  a face  and  body 
only  a mother  hellbender,  or  a die-hard 
herpetologist,  could  love.  They  are  flat, 
flappy-skinned  monsters  reaching  nearly 
30  inches  in  length.  Haunting  the  shallows 
of  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  drainages,  the 
hellbender  hunts  crayfish  and  scavenges 
dead  fish.  It  is  the  nightmare  of  the  unin- 
formed fisherman  who  catches  one,  and 
many  hellbenders  are  killed  through  fear 
and  repulsion.  The  lucky  ones  are  re- 


leased, the  lines  cut  and  tackle  sacrificed 
in  preference  to  handling  the  squirming 
monsters. 

On  a cold,  late-May  afternoon  just 
downriver  from  Kinzua  Dam,  I encoun- 
tered my  first  hellbender.  1 was  scuba  div- 
ing with  two  local  divers  who  skeptically 
agreed  to  guide  me  on  my  quest.  The  wa- 
ter was  high,  cold  and  murky.  Visibility 
was  measured  in  inches,  and  we  main- 
tained our  direction  and  safety  by  firm 
hand-grasps.  Incredibly,  as  we  hugged  the 
rocks  in  the  swiftly  moving,  turbid  river,  a 
hellbender  was  spotted  plodding  effort- 
lessly against  the  current.  I scooped  it  into 
a net  and  examined  it  closely  on  shore. 
Indeed,  it  did  have  a head  only  its  mother 
could  love! 

While  less  common  than  many  other 
species,  hellbenders  and  mudpuppies  are 
encountered  more  frequently  by  outdoor 
people  than  their  terrestrial  cousins.  Most 
of  these  others  are  seen  only  by  those  who 
are  actively  looking:  naturalists,  herpetolo- 
gists and  curious,  enthusiastic  kids. 

Many  found  by  the  latter  end  up  in  jars 
or  aquariums,  to  die  a rapid  death  from 
dessication  or  a lingering  one  from  slow 
starvation.  Excepting  perhaps  the  worm- 
eating mole  salamanders  or  the  eft,  most 
salamanders  make  poor  captives  and  mis- 
erable pets. 

But  the  collector  or  the  curious  child  do 
not  threaten  this  ancient  breed.  Like  an 
ancient  biblical  curse,  these  poorly  under- 
stood creatures  face  disaster  and  doom 
from  above.  The  life-giving  rains  of  spring 
and  summer,  the  blanket  of  sheltering 
snows  of  winter,  the  damp  fogs  of  au- 
tumn, this  moisture,  so  critical  to  the  sala- 
manders’ survival,  may  prove  to  be  their 
undoing. 

Our  rains  are  becoming  increasingly 
acidic  and  the  relationship  of  this  problem 
and  the  salamander’s  breeding  success  is 
still  poorly  understood.  Will  increasing 
acidity  filling  up  the  ephemeral  vernal 
ponds  eventually  become  so  inhospitable 
that  the  salamanders  cannot  breed?  No 
one  knows  for  sure,  but  the  sterile  ponds 
and  lakes  of  New  England,  Quebec,  and 
New  York’s  Adirondacks  would  strongly 
hint  at  the  answer. 

It  would  be  a tragedy  known  only  to 
too  few  and  an  incalculable  loss  to  every- 
one if  a tribe  of  life  that  preceded  and  sur- 
vived the  dinosaurs  were  to  succumb  in 
only  a few  scant  decades  solely  by  man’s 
callous  disregard  for  the  environment. 
Hopefully  it  is  not  too  late  to  preserve 
this  heritage,  and  perhaps  save  ourselves  in 
doing  so. 

October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  19 


The  Wooly  Bugger 


by  Chauncy  K.  Lively 
photos  by  the  author 


Several  of  today’s  popular  fly  patterns  are 
the  result  of  evolution  from  earlier  pat- 
terns. One  such  example  is  the  successful 
and  widely  used  Wooly  Bugger,  which 
evolved  from  the  earlier  Wooly  Worm 
pattern  originated  by  Don  Martinez,  a 
Western  fly  tyer.  Actually,  the  original 
pattern  was  a wet  fly  known  as  the  Black 
Wooly  Worm  and  was  dressed  with  tails 
of  guinea  fowl  feather  fibers  (later  changed 
to  red  yam  under  peacock  sword  fibers), 
a black  chenille  body  and  palmer-wound 
grizzly  saddle  hackle.  It  enjoyed  great  suc- 
cess on  the  big,  brawling  rivers  of  the 
West  where  it  was  believed  that  trout  mis- 
took it  for  large  Pteronarcys  stonefly 
nymphs  or  for  hellgrammites. 

As  the  pattern’s  use  became  more  wide- 
spread, fishermen  began  to  experiment  with 
other  colors.  Eventually,  local  anglers  de- 
veloped effective  color  combinations  based 
on  prevailing  fish  food  in  their  waters. 

Closely  paralleling  the  early  popularity 
of  the  Wooly  Worm,  the  use  of  marabou 
feathers  as  streamer  wings  began  to  emerge. 
Before  long,  fly  tyers  everywhere  were 
extolling  the  “look-alive”  virtues  of  mar- 
abou. With  such  a background  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  effectiveness  of  the  Wooly 
Worm  would  be  even  further  enhanced  by 
the  addition  of  a marabou  tail.  (Or  should 


1  Clamp  a 3X  or  4X  long  hook  (best 
sizes  range  from  4 to  10)  in  the  vise 
and  tie  in  brown  6/0  prewaxed  thread 
behind  the  eye.  Cut  a strip  of  lead  wire 
the  length  of  the  hook  shank  and  double 
it.  Bind  the  doubled  wire  to  the 
underside  of  the  shank  behind  the  eye 
and  wind  the  thread  back  to  the  bend. 


2  Select  a brown  marabou  feather  and 
tie  it  in  at  the  bend  for  an  effective 
length  equal  to  the  overall  hook  length. 
Then  tie  in  three  or  four  strands  of 
Krystal  Hair  or  Flashabou  on  either 
side  of  the  marabou. 


3  Select  a brown  saddle  hackle  or 
large  neck  hackle  with  barbules 
twice  as  long  as  the  hook  gap.  Stroke 
the  barbules  from  the  hackle’ s tip  to  the 
butt  to  cause  the  barbs  to  stand  out 
away  from  the  stem. 


20  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


illustration — Jennifer  Bennett 


it  more  properly  be  called  a marabou  “body 
extension”?)  In  any  case,  the  Wooly  Bug- 
ger was  bom  and  its  birth  heralded  an 
expansion  of  the  Wooly  Worm’s  range  of 
effectiveness. 

There  are  many  color  combinations 
possible  in  the  dressing  of  the  Wooly  Bug- 
ger and  the  creative  fly  tyer  will  experi- 
ment with  hues  that  suggest  favored  fish 
foods  in  his  home  waters.  In  the  dressing 
described  here  I prescribe  brown  mara- 
bou, dull  orange  (as  opposed  to  hot  orange) 
chenille  and  brown  hackle.  I’ve  found  this 
dressing  particularly  effective  in  streams 
with  good  populations  of  crayfish,  always 
a favorite  food  for  large  trout  and  bass. 
On  the  other  hand,  unicolored  versions  of 
the  pattern  in  dark  gray,  black  or  dark 
brown  are  fair  representations  of  leeches 
and  hellgrammites. 

The  Wooly  Bugger  doesn’t  belong  in 
any  of  the  usual  categories  of  fly  patterns. 
Actually,  it  fits  a slot  somewhere  between 
a nymph  and  a streamer.  Yet,  it  fishes 
well  using  methods  usually  prescribed  for 
both  nymphs  and  streamers.  There  are  many 
anglers  who  use  full-sinking  or  sink-tip 
lines  for  subsurface  fishing,  but  my  pref- 
erence is  generally  for  floating  lines  unless 
the  water  is  deep.  Line-mending  is  an  im- 
portant aspect  of  presentation  when  a drag- 


free  drift  of  the  fly  is  desirable,  and  I can 
accomplish  this  more  readily  with  a float- 
ing line. 

The  Wooly  Bugger  is  commonly  fished 
like  a streamer  fly.  It  is  retrieved  in  the 
darting,  start-stop  motion  of  a swimming 
minnow.  It  can  also  be  deadly  when  cast 
quartering  upstream  on  a slack  leader  and 
permitted  to  drift  naturally  with  the  cur- 
rent. The  line  should  be  mended  as  slack 
is  taken  up  to  prolong  the  free  drift.  Pay 
close  attention  to  the  end  of  the  line.  The 
free-drifting  fly  is  often  picked  up  without 
fuss  and  the  only  indication  of  a take  is  a 
hesitation  or  twitch  of  the  line.  Once  the 
drift  is  ended  and  the  fly  begins  to  rise 
toward  the  surface  on  a taut  line,  the  strike 
may  be  felt.  In  fact,  at  this  stage  of  the 
presentation  trout  and  bass  attack  the  fly 
savagely. 

In  streams  where  crayfish  are  plentiful 
I like  to  cast  the  Wooly  Bugger  across- 
stream  to  the  bank  and  retrieve  it  in  foot- 
long  spurts.  If  there  is  a trout  or  bass  in 
the  vicinity  it  will  often  pounce  on  the  fly 
before  it  reaches  deep  water. 

On  spring  creeks  where  dense  beds  of 
elodea  grow  along  the  banks,  there  is 
sometimes  another  condition  worthy  of  at- 
tention. In  late  evening  crayfish  leave  their 
burrows  in  the  banks  and  crawl  out  onto 


4  Tie  in  the  hackle  by  its  stem  at  the 
bend , with  the  glossy  side  toward 
the  eye.  Then  select  a strand  of  large , 
dull-orange  chenille  and  strip  away  g- 
inch  of  the  flue  at  one  end.  Tie  in  the 
stripped  end  at  the  bend.  Wind  the 
thread  forward. 


5  Wind  the  chenille  forward  to  form 
an  untapered  body  and  tie  it  off 
behind  the  eye.  Trim  the  excess  chenille. 


the  elodea  to  feed.  Anyone  who  has  walked 
along  the  Letort  at  dusk  has  probably  seen 
faint  V- wakes  moving  slowly  over  the 
weedbeds,  indicating  that  big  browns  are 
on  the  prowl  for  their  favorite  nocturnal 
snacks.  An  unweighted  Wooly  Bugger  cast 
ahead  of  the  wake  sometimes  does  busi- 
ness, but  the  presentation  should  be  made 
quietly  because  the  trout  will  likely  be 
large  and  extra  wary  in  such  an  exposed 
situation. 

The  inherent  live  movement  of  mara- 
bou feather  fibers  is  one  of  the  prime  rea- 
sons for  its  success  in  subsurface  flies. 
Even  when  the  Wooly  Bugger  is  sus- 
pended stationary  in  slow-moving  water 
without  action  imparted  by  the  angler,  the 
soft  fibers  seem  to  breathe  and  suggest 
life.  For  this  reason,  never  hurry  to  fish 
out  a cast.  Before  picking  up  the  fly  to  re- 
cast, let  it  hang  in  the  current  to  do  its 
dance  for  a few  moments.  Fish  sometimes 
follow  a retrieved  fly  for  a distance  but 
lose  interest  when  the  fly  is  snatched  away 
and  re-cast. 

The  Wooly  Bugger  is  known  mainly  as 
a trout  fly,  but  those  who  ply  the  long  rod 
in  pursuit  of  bass,  and  especially  stream 
smallmouths,  will  find  the  pattern  equally 
effective.  It  seems  to  have  the  kind  of 
universal  appeal  that  is  common  to  many 
of  the  great  flies.  [pa] 


6  Wind  the  hackle  open-palmer  style 
over  the  body  and  tie  it  off  at  the 
fore  end  of  the  body.  Trim  the  excess 
hackle  stem , and  whip  finish  and 
lacquer  the  head. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


utumn 

and  Those  River  Smallmouths 


by  Jim  Gronaw 

Jimmy  Ayers  pointed  to  a shadowy  rock 
ledge  that  was  just  inches  below  the  swirl- 
ing currents.  From  our  vantage  point  on 
top  of  an  upstream  boulder  we  could  see 
the  nice-looking  backswirl.  Jimmy  had  al- 
ready caught  a pair  of  nice  smallmouths 
from  behind  it.  Arching  a lively  minnow 
behind  the  ledge,  I tracked  its  drift  care- 
fully, and  fortunately,  the  baitfish  curled 
back  up  into  the  eddy  without  any  down- 
stream drag.  Almost  instantly  a lethargic 
thump-thump  at  rod’s  end  signaled 
a taker. 

1 didn’t  see  the  first  majestic  leap  of  this 
fish— I was  too  busy  trying  to  get  off  the 
boulder  and  into  an  area  where  I could 
play  it  out.  But  my  angling  partner  said  it 
cleared  the  surface  by  two  feet.  Cautiously 
back-reeling  and  gaining  line  when  I 
could,  I eventually  put  the  grip  on  a stun- 
ning, beautifully  marked,  tiger-striped 
bronzeback. 

By  river  standards  it  was  a trophy, 
weighing  4 pounds,  5 ounces,  measuring 
20  inches.  It  wasn’t  May  or  June,  when 
most  river  smallmouth  enthusiasts  fish  for 
trophies.  It  was  October,  a month  when 
most  outdoorsmen  have  other  species  on 
their  minds. 

Autumn  angling  for  river  smallmouths 
is  a completely  different  ballgame  from 
summer  fishing.  July  and  August  can  yield 
50  fish  a day,  but  very  few  exceed  two 
pounds.  Fall  bassing,  by  contrast,  can  pro- 
duce fewer  fish,  but  they  will  be  much 
larger.  If  you  are  willing  to  trade  raw,  blus- 
tery weather  for  quality  river  small- 
mouthing,  with  the  realistic  chance  for  a 
trophy  fish,  then  late  fall  is  the  time  to  be 
on  the  water. 

For  the  past  several  years,  we  have 
found  that  the  so-called  “fall-blitz”  of 
river  smallmouth  activity  begins  when  the 
water  temperatures  fall  to  60  degrees  and 
then  continue  to  drop  to  approximately 
54.  Throughout  this  temperature  range, 
you  can  catch  lots  of  bass  of  varying  sizes, 
but  bigger  fish  will  be  more  prevalent  than 
they  are  during  the  summer.  From  54  de- 
grees down  to  45  degrees  the  fishing  grad- 
ually slows  down,  but  beautiful,  3-  to 
5-pound  smallmouths  can  still  be  taken  by 
a persistent  angler. 


Locations  according  to 
temperature 

At  the  first  part  of  the  fall  binge  (60 
degrees  to  54  degrees),  smallmouths  can 
be  found  in  their  standard  summer 
haunts.  Areas  of  moderate  current  with 
boils,  grassy  tips  of  islands  and  eddies  and 
ledges  all  hold  fish.  Although  not  quite  as 
active  as  summer  fish,  the  action  still  can 
be  consistent.  Within  this  temperature 
range,  river  smallmouth  bass  feed  actively 
on  minnows  and  crayfish,  and  when 
hooked  they  take  to  the  air  in  typical 
bronzeback  fashion. 

At  this  time,  you.  are  as  likely  to  catch 
bass  in  eddies  as  you  would  behind  ledges 
or  riffles.  In  other  words,  the  fish  are  ag- 
gressive and  using  all  forms  of  river  struc- 
ture to  ambush  prey  for  the  upcom- 
ing winter. 

As  the  water  temperature  drops  into  the 
low  50s  and  upper  40s,  larger  bass  congre- 
gate in  non-current  areas  such  as  eddies, 
backswirls  and  calm  pockets  behind  boul- 
ders or  ledges.  When  this  occurs,  you’ll 
probably  catch  fewer  fish  as  their  metabo- 
lism slows,  but  you  have  a realistic  chance 
at  a trophy  river  smallie  of  four  pounds 
or  better. 

Larger  bass  do  continue  to  feed,  but 
they  use  non-current  areas  during  high- 
water  periods  to  have  any  type  of  forage 
funneled  to  them.  They  aren’t  actively 
seeking  prey.  They’re  waiting  for  it  to 
come  to  them.  Slow,  deliberate,  patient 
fishing  is  a must  at  this  time,  and  you  may 
fish  all  day  with  only  a couple  of  strikes. 
Be  ready  for  these  few  chances.  They 
could  be  trophies. 

Bait,  lures 

Over  the  last  several  seasons,  our  most 
consistent  live  bait  has  been  live  minnows 
followed  by  live  crayfish.  Native  baitfish, 
netted  from  tributary  creeks  of  the  river 
system,  almost  always  outproduce  store- 
bought  bait.  I know  it’s  a hassle  and  not 
easy  to  do  in  the  cold,  but  netting  bait 
usually  pays  off  in  autumn  small- 
mouthing.  Three-  to  five-inch  minnows 
are  ideal  for  the  bigger  bass,  but  you  can 
get  by  with  smaller  bait.  We’ve  had  excel- 
lent results  using  smaller  “redback” 
branch  shiners — a bait  smallmouths  seem 


to  relish.  For  crayfish,  two-  to  three-inch 
crustaceans  are  ideal. 

Using  medium  bass  spinning  gear  and 
8-pound-test  mono,  we  fish  these  live  baits 
on  size  4 baitholder  hooks  with  splitshot 
pinched  on  16  inches  above  the  bait.  De- 
pending on  the  current,  adding  or  taking 
away  splitshot  is  needed  to  keep  the  bait 
rolling  nicely  in  the  current.  No  tricks,  no 
gimmicks,  just  simple  live-bait  fishing. 
The  colder  the  water,  the  more  emphasis 
on  non-current  areas.  Simply  let  the  bass 
run  off  several  feet  of  line  after  the  strike, 
let  them  draw  out  the  slack  and  then  set 
the  hook.  Hang  on! 

For  lures,  small  Vs-ounce  jigs  can 
be  fished  with  success  and  the  larger 
3/i6-ounce  jig-and-pig  combos  also  take 
bass.  Dark-color  jigs  such  as  brown, 
black,  or  blue  usually  produce  better  than 
lighter  shades.  A two-inch  twister  or  tube- 
style  vinyl  skirt  is  a good  match  for  Vs- 
ounce  jigheads. 

High-visibility  monos  testing  six  or  eight 
pounds  aid  in  viewing  subtle  line  move- 
ments, often  characteristic  of  late-fall 
smallmouth  fishing.  When  slow-hopping 
jigs  through  non-current  areas,  expect  light 
strikes  that  are  often  indicated  by  a 
“jump”  or  “tick”  of  the  line.  Sometimes 
a strike  may  be  telegraphed  by  a slight 
heaviness  in  the  “lift”  portion  of  hopping 
these  jigs.  When  you  feel  this,  it  could  be 
a smallie  that  has  held  your  lure  firmly, 
but  has  not  really  struck  at  it  in  hard- 
hitting, smallmouth  bass  fashion.  Set  the 
hook!  Sure,  it  could  be  a leaf,  but  it  could 
be  a big  bronzeback.  Treat  all  unusual  rod 
or  line  movements  as  though  they  were 
strikes.  Make  no  exceptions  here. 


Fall  bassing  can  produce 
fewer  fish  than  summer 
angling,  but  the  fish  in 
fall  will  be  much  larger 
than  those  you  might 
fool  in  summer. 


22  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


graphics  by  Rose  Boegli 


Jim  Gronaw 


Rock-hopping 

One  of  the  most  effective  boating  tactics 
for  late-season  river  smallies  is  what  we 
call  “rock-hopping.”  Rock-hopping  is 
best  done  by  float-fishing  downstream  and 
then  easing  up  on  boulders,  rocks  or 
ledges,  securing  the  craft,  and  then  hop- 
ping out  and  fishing  the  quiet  eddies  and 
backswirls.  To  cover  these  areas  effectively, 
we  wear  insulated,  chest-high  waders  and 
carefully  get  into  position  for  a drag-free 
delivery  to  non-current  areas  with  live  bait 
or  jigs. 

Of  course,  a PFD  must  always  be  worn 
and  cautious  footing  is  required.  We’ve 
never  had  any  mishaps  during  this  cold- 
weather  fishing,  but  then  we’ve  always 
used  caution.  The  biggest  smallmouth  in 
the  river  isn’t  worth  a frigid  spill  with  air 
temperatures  near  the  freezing  mark. 

By  approaching  these  areas  from  a 
downstream  float,  you  won’t  spook  the 
fish  that  you  would  by  motoring  upriver 
right  to  the  calmer  areas.  However,  if  the 
river  is  high  and  somewhat  stained,  an  up- 
stream approach  can  be  practical  to  get  to 
the  fish.  Stained  water  (not  muddy)  is  ac- 
tually beneficial  for  river  bassing  because 
it  allows  for  a closer  presentation  and  the 
use  of  heavier  line  in  rock-strewn  areas.  A 
recent  rain  also  flushes  food  into  the  river, 
thus  increasing  smallmouth  bass  feeding 
activity.  It’s  wrong  to  assume  that  bassing 
is  only  good  in  clear  water,  so  don’t  let 
off-color  currents  scare  you  away. 

The  big  advantage  of  rock-hopping  is 
that  you  can  fish  seemingly  insignificant 
pockets  that  often  hold  good  fish.  You  can 
also  effectively  work  areas  that  you 
couldn’t  otherwise  fish  from  a boat. 

Tackle,  clothing 

Autumn  days  on  Quaker  State  bass  riv- 
ers can  be  balmy  one  day  and  snowy  the 
next.  Snowmobile  suits  are  often  needed, 
and  chest-high  waders  are  a definite  plus 
for  probing  pockets  with  a quiet  approach. 
For  me,  I’d  rather  be  over-dressed,  then 
take  off  clothes  layer  by  layer  as  the  day 
warms  up. 

As  for  gear,  I prefer  a 6 V2-foot  graph- 
ite spinning  stick  and  a smooth-drag  spin- 
ning reel  spooled  with  quality  8-pound-test 
monofilament.  The  longer  rod  enables  a 
higher  “lift”  when  slow-hopping  jigs  plus 
it  gives  you  a greater  “sweep”  on  the 
hookset.  In  baitfishing,  many  bass  are  lost 
right  at  the  hookset.  A longer,  powerful 
yet  sensitive  graphite  rod  nails  more  fish 


than  the  more  popular  shorter  sticks. 

Terminal  tackle  should  consist  of  size  4 
baitholder  hooks,  a variety  of  splitshot 
and  extra  line  if  tough,  rocky  condi- 
tions prevail.  An  ample  supply  of  Vs-  to 
V4-ounce  jigs  and  plastics  in  various  col- 
ors should  be  handy,  and  as  a rule,  darker 
colors  work  better  in  the  fall.  Jig-and-pig 
lures  should  be  in  supply  along  with  a few 
jars  of  pork  frogs. 

Late  fall  smallmouths — they’ll  surprise 
you.  Slow  down,  fish  thoroughly  and 
don’t  let  the  cold  chase  you  away  from 
some  of  the  best  bass  angling  of  the  year. 

(TTj 


Fisherman  Jim  Ayers  caught  this  nice 
autumn  smallmouth  bass  just  north  of 
the  Commission ’s  Fort  Hunter  Access  on 
the  Susquehanna  River,  Dauphin  County. 
Live  minnows  of  3 to  5 inches  and  live 
crayfish  of  2 to  3 inches  are  ideal. 
Eighth-ounce  jigs  are  also  a ticket  to 
success. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


K3 

K 

3? 

k.  SIP 

4 

•as 

by  Ed  Shenk 

October!  The  deep-blue  sky, 
5 the  brightly  colored  leaves  and 
the  passing  of  numerous  flocks  of  Canada 
geese  on  their  journey  southward  all  stir 
the  blood  of  the  outdoorsman.  I’m  no  ex- 
ception, and  the  siren  song  of  the  moun- 
tains is  sometimes  so  great  that  everything 
else  fades  into  the  background. 

Last  October  was  no  exception.  One 
such  day  of  October’s  bright  blue  weather 


found  me  motoring  toward  the  distant 
mountains  with  thoughts  of  native  brook 
trout  uppermost  in  my  mind.  As  usual,  I 
had  spent  many  hours  during  spring  and 
summer  casting  my  flies  onto  the  waters 
of  a variety  of  lowland  streams.  My 
mountain  trout  fishing  had  been  so  infre- 
quent that  I could  count  on  one  hand  the 
number  of  hours  spent  fishing  for  what  I 
call  “jewels  of  the  headwaters.” 

As  I crossed  the  first  tiny  brookie 


stream,  the  sparkling  water  put  that  old 
tingle  inside  me  just  as  it  has  for  over  50 
years.  Perhaps  it  is  this  part  of  me  that 
stays  forever  young.  I motored  on  and 
soon  I eased  to  the  side  of  the  gravel  road 
near  my  destination. 

Hurriedly  I assembled  my  gear  and 
strung  up  a short,  flexible  fiberglass  fly 
rod.  The  single-action  reel  already  had  on 
it  a 7 V2-foot  tapered  leader  designed  spe  - 
cifically for  short  casts  in  tight  places.  I 


24  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Harrv  W.  Murray 


checked  the  5x  tippet  and  clinch-knotted  a 
size  16  Letort  Cricket  on  the  end.  With 
trembling  hands  that  could  scarcely  wait  to 
put  a fly  in  the  water,  I added  some  paste 
flotant  to  the  fly  and  dressed  the  majority 
of  the  leader  with  the  residue  on  my  fin- 
gers. I prefer  a floating  leader  most  of  the 
time  because  it  simplifies  the  pickup  of  the 
fly  when  making  a new  cast. 

Now  I was  ready!  I pulled  up  my  hip 
boots  and  slowly  eased  upstream.  The  first 


tiny  pool  in  the  low,  clear  water  looked 
inviting.  I glanced  behind  me  to  determine 
where  my  backcast  should  go,  false-cast 
once  and  shot  the  line  forward. 

The  cricket  alighted  with  a tiny  splat 
and  immediately  was  inhaled  by  a hungry 
brook  trout.  The  struggle  of  an  8-inch 
trout  against  even  the  frailest  tackle  is  anti- 
climactic,  and  in  less  than  a minute  the 
little  beauty  was  ready  for  release.  This 
one  was  a female  with  the  pastel  beauty 
found  in  all  such  natives,  but  I was  hoping 
to  subdue  at  least  a few  male  brookies 
with  their  additional  brilliance  during  the 
fall  spawning  season. 

Mountain  brook  trout  fishing  is  unique 
in  the  sense  that  we  are  no  longer  in  the 
wide-open  spaces.  Most  headwater 
streams  that  I fish  vary  from  open  enough 
to  make  casting  rather  simple  to  dense 
enough  that  casting  is  nearly  impossible. 
Of  course,  the  average  situation  is  one  in 
which  I have  to  pick  a hole  in  the  brush  to 
place  my  backcast  without  getting  the  fly 
hooked  up  before  it  hits  the  water. 

It  doesn’t  always  work,  believe  me. 
Many  times  I have  to  shoot  the  line  and 
leader  over  or  under  a log  or  limb  or  try  to 
punch  the  cast  through  an  opening  in  the 
foliage  so  that  the  fly  lands  close  to  a 
place  where  I hope  a fish  will  see  it  and 
grab  it  before  the  inevitable  drag  sets  in. 

Success  or  failure  depends  not  on  one 
but  on  many  interrelated  subjects,  such  as 
approach,  clothing,  tackle,  flies,  and  one’s 
casting  ability.  Let’s  look  at  tackle  first. 

Tackle 

Almost  to  a man  the  writers  of  free- 
stone headwater  trout  fishing  cite  the  need 
for  long  fly  rods.  In  their  articles,  however, 
one  sees  photographs  of  relatively  open 
water  where  a 7-  to  9-foot  rod  will  not 
have  its  tip  continually  jammed  into  over- 
hanging branches  or  tangles  of  rhododen- 
dron. I know  that  some  of  these  fishermen 
are  so  expert  that  they  can  take  these 
longer  rods  and  fish  all  but  the  densest 
tangles.  Not  me,  though.  I do  not  enjoy 
trying  to  thread  a long  rod  through  tangles 
of  brush.  As  far  as  extending  the  rod  be- 
hind you  and  pulling  it  through,  forget  it. 
This  works  only  in  theory  and  is  a good 
way  to  break  a rod. 

My  choice  for  a number  of  years  has 
been  rods  under  6 feet,  either  fiberglass  or 
bamboo.  For  years  I fished  all  streams  ex- 
clusively with  these  diminutive  rods.  I did 
this  because  I liked  the  feel  of  these  tiny 
rods,  and  not  to  show  off  as  some  infer. 
Nowadays  for  my  open-water  day-in,  day- 
out  fishing,  I lean  toward  a couple  of  pet 


6'/2-foot  graphite  rods  that  handle  2-  and 
4- weight  lines.  I supplement  these  rods 
with  a small  battery  of  delicate  bamboo 
rods  from  5 to  6 feet  long. 

But  back  to  the  mountain  rods.  I lean 
toward  fiberglass  rods  from  5 to  5 x/i  feet 
long.  I do  not  want  an  extremely  slow- 
action  rod.  I want  one  that  bends  progres- 
sively toward  the  rod  grip.  With  these  I 
can  “load”  the  rods  quickly  and  some- 
times with  little  room  for  a backcast  a for- 
ward snap  propels  the  line,  leader,  and  fly 
sufficiently  far  to  entice  a wary  brookie. 
The  casting  distances  generally  range  from 
10  to  25  feet.  Some  of  this  depends  on  the 
approachability  of  the  fish.  It  is  generally 
a good  idea  to  get  as  close  to  your  quarry 
as  you  can  without  spooking  it.  Some- 
times that  last  step  is  just  one  step  too 
close  and  the  trout  scoots  upstream  to  a 
favorite  hiding  place. 

My  little  rods  balance  best  with  4- 
weight  lines,  preferably  double  tapered.  If 
you  prefer  a weight-forward  tapered  line, 
it’s  okay,  but  seldom  does  one  have 
enough  line  in  the  air  to  use  the  level  run- 
ning line.  The  weight-forward  part  is  usu- 
ally about  30  feet  long,  so  one  would  have 
to  be  casting  over  40  feet  to  benefit  best 
from  the  weight-forward  taper.  Another 
benefit  of  the  double-tapered  line  is  that  it 
can  be  reversed  after  a season  or  two  and 
you  are  in  essence  starting  with  a brand 
new  line.  My  favorite  reels  are  the  tiniest 
single-action  ones  put  out  by  a number 
of  firms. 

Leaders 

What  about  leaders?  I start  mainly  with 
a section  of  hard  nylon  that  is  seventeen- 
thousandths  of  an  inch  thick  (.017).  I use 
an  epoxy  splice  whereby  about  2 inches  of 
this  butt  section  is  coated  with  epoxy  and 
pushed  into  the  top  of  the  fly  line.  I also 
place  a drop  of  epoxy  at  the  joint  between 
the  line  and  leader  to  strengthen  the  splice 
further.  There  is  no  knot  or  loop,  so  the 
connection  flows  through  the  rod  guides 
without  hanging  up. 

I can  start  with  only  inches  of  leader 
beyond  the  rod  tip  and  a few  false  casts 
extend  the  line,  which  saves  time  and 
headaches.  This  splice  is  strong  enough 
that  the  leader  tippet  will  break  before  the 
splice  fails.  Even  a knot,  unless  coated 
with  epoxy  or  pliobond,  will  sometimes 
hang  up  in  the  guides. 

Because  of  the  tight  fishing  quarters,  a 
short,  tapered  leader  is  preferred.  Here’s  a 
workable  tapered  leader  formula  adapted 
from  those  in  Joe  Humphreys’  Trout  Tac- 
tics, a great  book  that  should  be  in  every- 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


one’s  library.  Joe  is  not  only  one  of  the 
country’s  top  fishermen,  but  a true  expert 
at  mountain  stream  fishing,  along  with  his 
close  friend  George  Harvey.  Remember 
that  the  leader  butt  section  of  .017-inch  is 
already  permanently  attached  to  the  line. 
It  is  from  10  to  15  inches  long.  I use  barrel 
knots  to  attach  each  leader  section.  Now 
the  formula  based  on  thousandths  of  an 
inch:  .015  at  12  inches  long,  .013  at 
12  inches,  .007  at  8 inches,  and  .006  at 
18  inches. 

The  sections  .015  through  .011  are  stiff 
monofilament,  such  as  Maxima  or  that 
put  out  by  Hilles  of  Williamsport.  The 
other  sections  are  soft  monofilament. 

You  might  have  to  play  with  this  leader 
if  it  does  not  turn  over  completely  for  you. 
When  I have  that  problem,  I first  shorten 
the  tippet  (.006)  slightly,  but  seldom  did  I 
make  it  shorter  than  18  inches.  If  it  still 
does  not  turn  over,  shorten  the  .007  and 
.013  by  an  inch  or  two. 

You  might  think  I’m  spending  too 
much  time  on  leader  design,  but  it  is  criti- 
cal that  the  leader  perform  correctly.  I 
might  also  mention  that  I prefer  neutral- 


colored  lines  for  this  fishing.  Sometimes 
the  flash  of  a white  line  or  a fluorescent 
one  spooks  fish  when  one  is  false  casting. 

One  partial  remedy  if  you  are  using 
such  a line  is  to  minimize  false  casts,  and 
make  every  attempt  to  keep  the  line  away 
from  the  fish’s  position  until  the  leader 
and  fly  alight  nearby.  I prefer  to  false  cast 
to  one  side  of  the  fish  or  else  keep  my  cast 
behind  the  fish  until  I shoot  the  line, 
leader  and  fly  forward  to  drop  beside  the 
fish.  I prefer  a line  of  pale  peach  color  or 
one  known  in  the  trade  as  a buckskin 
color.  These  lines  are  light  enough  in  color 
so  that  I can  see  them  even  in  dense  shade, 
but  not  so  light  that  they  spook  many 
fish.  Once  I tried  a dark-brown  line  and  it 
was  so  difficult  to  see  that  I soon  went 
back  to  the  lighter  shades. 

Camo 

I have  always  been  a firm  believer  in 
dull-colored  clothing  while  fishing.  My 
preferred  shirts  are  generally  a subdued 
color  of  some  sort,  various  shades  of 
green  or  muted  plaids.  I have  three  plaid 
safari  cloth  shirts  that  I have  nursed  along 


for  years.  I think  there  is  an  old  saying 
that  goes  something  like  this:  “If  you  find 
something  you  like,  better  buy  a lifetime 
supply  because  they’re  bound  to  discon- 
tinue it.”  The  mail  order  company  from 
which  I bought  these  shirts  discontinued 
these  plaid  shirts  years  ago,  but  I still  get 
nice  comments  about  them. 

Pants,  because  they  are  mostly  covered 
by  the  boots,  are  not  as  critical,  but  I still 
prefer  blue  jeans,  or  again,  other  pants  in 
shades  of  green. 

I never  felt  the  absolute  necessity  for 
camouflage  clothing,  but  it  works.  Once 
last  fall  I bow  hunted  in  the  early  morning 
and  was  bedecked  in  a camo  outfit.  I even 
had  my  face  painted.  Along  about  10 
o’clock  I decided  to  try  the  brook  trout 
fishing.  I was  going  to  end  the  day  by  bow 
hunting,  so  I did  not  change  clothes  or 
scrub  my  face.  Would  you  believe  that  by 
moving  very  slowly  I was  able  to  get 
within  four  feet  of  one  nice  brookie?  That 
particular  pool  and  I’m  sure  that  particu- 
lar brookie  were  such  that  the  closest  I 
ever  got  with  normal  subdued  clothing 
and  a bright  face  was  10  feet. 


Here’s  the  author’s  selection  for  autumn  brookies.  Clockwise  Letort  Cricket,  a size  14  hopper,  a size  16  deer  hair  beetle,  and  a 

from  the  top  left  are  a size  16  yellow  marabou  streamer,  a size  14  size  16  white  marabou  streamer, 
deer  hair  ant,  a size  16  hopper,  a size  16  Letort  Hopper,  a size  14 


26  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Ed  Shenk 


The  feeder 
streams  are  off 
limits  at  this 
time  of  year.  By 
protecting  these, 
not  every  spawning 
trout  is  going  to  be 
fished  over  and 
possibly  killed  by  a 
visiting  fisherman . 

After  a particular  stream  has  been 
fished  for  a period  of  time,  one  gets  to 
know  where  to  stand  (or  kneel)  for  opti- 
mum results  in  most  pools.  If  you  are  hav- 
ing difficulty  and  are  scaring  too  many 
trout,  you  might  want  to  give  camo  garb 
a try. 

Accessories 

I prefer  hip  waders  for  my  mountain 
stream  fishing.  I have  worn  out  a number 
of  pairs  of  boots  at  the  knees  by  kneeling 
in  the  abrasive  gravel,  so  I now  wear  a pair 
of  kneepads  over  the  boots.  They  have 
saved  me  from  aching  knees  as  well  as  sav- 
ing wear  and  tear  on  the  boots.  The  best 
kneepads  are  those  used  in  the  building 
trade  for  people  who  lay  tile  or  linoleum, 
or  finish  concrete. 

A well-stocked  fishing  vest  is  part  of  the 
outfit  when  I go  on  the  average  stream  for 
a number  of  hours.  This  vest  contains  eve- 
rything imaginable,  such  as  fly  boxes,  ex- 
tra leaders,  leader  clipper,  hemostat  for 
removing  hooks,  leader  tippets  of  2x  to 
6x,  and  a number  of  other  things.  I only 
use  a small  handful  of  fly  patterns  on  the 
mountain  creeks,  so  I have  a little  chest 
pack  that  contains  the  essentials.  These  in- 
clude: one  small  fly  box,  extra  leader  tip- 
pets in  4x  and  5x,  one  extra  leader,  paste 
dry  fly  flotant,  leader  clippers  and  a he- 
mostat. All  this  fits  in  my  little  chest  pack. 

Flies 

Now  comes  the  flies  themselves.  My  all- 
time  favorite  is  the  Letort  Cricket  in  sizes 
14  and  16.  This  is  a pattern  that  I origi- 
nated over  25  years  ago.  It  is  a high  floater 
that  will  remain  floating  even  after  a num- 
ber of  fish  have  been  caught  and  released. 

Along  with  this,  the  Shenk  Hopper  in 


sizes  14  and  16  is  used  a lot.  There  are 
times  when  owing  to  darkened  conditions 
the  black  cricket  is  difficult  to  see.  It  is 
there  that  I use  the  hopper  pattern.  If  I 
had  to  limit  my  choice  to  two  flies,  it 
would  be  these  two. 

Deer  hair  beetles  in  black  and  tan  in 
sizes  14  and  16  are  also  useful.  Take  a tip 
from  the  experts  and  tie  in  a tuft  of  fluo- 
rescent orange  or  yellow  polypropylene 
yam  for  better  visibility.  Another  pattern 
that  is  deadly  is  the  deer  hair  ant  or  the 
fur  ant.  George  Harvey  and  Joe  Hum- 
phreys prefer  a large  deer  hair  “Carpenter 
Ant”  with  a fluorescent  tuft  or  yam  on  it. 

A word  of  caution:  Do  not  fish  with 
flies  that  are  too  small  because  the  tiniest 
brookies  can  inhale  them  too  deeply.  Oc- 
casionally I have  snipped  off  a very  small 
fly  that  was  inhaled  by  a 3-  to  5-inch  (or 
larger)  brookie.  Always  I hoped  they  sur- 
vived. Now  with  the  larger  flies,  the  tiniest 
fish  cannot  inhale  them  so  deeply.  Most 
are  generally  lip-hooked. 

All  my  flies  also  have  the  barbs  pinched 
down  before  I fish  with  them.  I have  never 
felt  that  I lost  fish  because  of  the  barbless 
flies,  but  they  are  easier  to  remove  from 
the  fish. 

For  example,  late  last  summer  I made 
one  of  my  short  but  numerous  trips  to  the 
Letort,  my  favorite  of  favorites.  In  short 
order  I hooked  a 20-inch  brown  on  a cress 
bug  imitation.  My  camera  was  back  at  the 
car,  so  after  playing  the  trout  to  the  point 
where  he  had  calmed  down,  I slacked  off 
on  the  line.  Immediately  the  fish  quit 
“fighting”  and  calmly  swam  under  the 
bank  where  he  had  come  from.  I laid  the 
rod  down,  went  to  the  car  and  got  my 
camera.  I wanted  a close-up  of  the  fish,  so 
I prefocused  the  reflex  camera  before  I 
picked  up  the  rod.  As  I expected  the  fish 
was  still  on  and  shortly  I was  snapping  a 
few  pictures.  I have  done  this  many  times. 

So  there  you  have  the  outfit  from  boots 
to  flies.  Now  let’s  study  the  stream  itself 
by  continuing  the  little  jaunt  I started  the 
story  with. 

I continued  upstream  flicking  a cast 
here  and  another  there.  Each  tiny  pocket 
seemed  to  hold  a hungry  fish,  mostly  little 
ones  and  mostly  the  pastel  females.  I came 
to  one  small  pool  that  had  a good  under- 
cut bank.  The  fly  lighted  just  right.  I 
tensed,  but  nothing  happened  and  in  sec- 
onds the  fly  and  leader  dragged  away  from 
the  hotspot. 

I seldom  make  more  than  two  casts  to 
the  same  spot.  Sometimes,  of  course,  I’m 
happy  if  I get  one  cast  right  before  the  fly 
hangs  on  a limb  or  gets  caught  on  the 


backcast.  Mountain  trouting  teaches  pa- 
tience if  nothing  else. 

My  second  cast  went  where  it  was  sup- 
posed to  and  the  fly  only  drifted  an  inch 
or  two  before  it  was  sucked  under  by  the 
hungry  native.  I struck  and  felt  a heavier- 
than-usual  resistance.  I saw  the  flash  of 
brilliant  orange  and  knew  I had  hooked  a 
good  one.  Immediately  the  line  went  tight 
as  the  fish  bored  up  under  the  bank.  I 
thrashed  upstream  and  reached  down  to 
loosen  the  leader.  I wanted  that  fish!  I 
could  see  that  the  trout  was  a trophy  by 
headwater  standards. 

This  was  the  second  trout  I wanted  to 
photograph,  but  it  wasn’t  to  be.  As  I un- 
wound the  tangled  tippet  the  fish  got  the 
needed  leverage  and  the  fly  came  free.  It’s 
funny  how  things  become  relative.  Even 
after  dozens  and  dozens  of  big  trout  over 
the  years,  this  little  10-incher  actually  had 
me  trembling. 

I fished  on  until  I came  to  the  only  large 
pool  in  this  stretch  of  stream.  There  is  a 
summer  cabin  here,  and  over  the  years  the 
children  had  placed  a small  rock  dam  to 
deepen  the  water  slightly.  It  was  not  a wa- 
tertight dam,  one  that  would  seriously 
impair  the  stream  flow,  but  it  did  deepen 
the  pool. 

This  was  a hands-and-knees  pool  and 
that  was  exactly  how  I made  my  ap- 
proach. I stripped  line  from  the  reel  and 
shot  a rather  long  cast  to  the  overhanging 
laurel  where  1 was  sure  I detected  a rise. 
The  little  black  cricket  drifted,  drifted, 
drifted  and  just  about  the  time  drag  would 
have  set  in,  he  took  it!  Soon,  I was  photo- 
graphing a male  brookie  in  his  “courting” 
dress.  After  the  quick  pictures,  I gently 
placed  my  trophy  back  in  the  water  where 
he  belonged. 

Somehow  the  sky  seemed  a little  bluer 
and  the  leaves  a little  brighter.  I had  found 
serenity,  and  a satisfaction  that  only  comes 
from  doing  something  I truly  love. 

I will  not  mention  particular  mountain 
stream  locations  for  you  to  fish.  Check  the 
Summary  of  Fishing  Regulations  and 
Laws  1988  for  approved  trout  waters. 
Some  of  these  that  begin  in  the  mountains 
should  have  native  brookies  in  them. 

Part  of  the  pleasure  of  this  type  of  fish- 
ing is  in  the  searching  for  pleasant  places 
to  fish.  Just  remember  also  that  the  feeder 
streams,  those  little  side  trickles  coming 
into  the  main  stream,  are  off  limits  at  this 
time  of  year.  By  protecting  these,  not  every 
spawning  trout  is  going  to  be  fished  over 
and  possibly  killed  by  a visiting  fisherman. 
My  trout  would  be  released,  but  not  every- 
one feels  the  same  way.  Good  luck!  1 p*i 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


27 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Movies  Available 

The  Fish  Commission  has  the  following 
16mm  movies  available  through  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  Library  System:  Judgment 
on  the  Water:  A Lesson  in  Small  Boat 
Safety,  Water:  The  Timeless  Compound 
and  Acid  Rain,  Requiem  or  Recover.  To 
reserve  a film,  order  it  through  your  local 
library. 


Judgment  on  the  Water  addresses  the 
sportsman’s  use  of  small  boats.  It  high- 
lights the  major  causes  of  small-boat  fatal- 
ities, which  include  alcohol  use  while 
boating,  not  wearing  PFDs  and  cold-water 
boating. 

Water:  The  Timeless  Compound  fo- 
cuses on  water  safety  awareness.  It  exam- 
ines water  as  it  is  found  in  oceans,  lakes, 


rivers,  creeks  and  streams.  The  story  is 
told  through  documentary  photography, 
animation  and  accounts  of  water  accident 
victims. 

Acid  Rain,  Requiem  or  Recovery  is  an 
environmental  awareness  film  showing  the 
affects  of  acid  rain  and  the  need  to  imple- 
ment action  to  minimize  and  eliminate  its 
current  and  future  damage  to  the  envi- 
ronment. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


If  the  shoreline  you’re  fishing  is  relatively 
free  of  debris,  cast  right  up  onto  it.  Then 
inch  the  plug  or  spinner  back  into  the 
water  and  start  your  retrieve.  Bass  often 
hunt  the  shallows,  only  a few  feet  from  dry 
land,  and  the  quiet  arrival  of  your  lure 
won’t  spook  them. 


From  now  on  most  fishing  will  be  done 
on  increasingly  colder  days.  To  keep  your 
hands  warm  while  still  being  able  to 
manipulate  spinning  or  casting  gear,  cut 
about  one-third  of  the  index  finger  (for 
spinning  reels)  or  thumb  (for  casting  reels) 
from  the  glove  of  your  casting  hand.  This 
lets  you  feel  the  line  while  spinning  and 
control  the  casts  while  baitcasting — and  still 
protect  the  rest  of  your  hand  from  cold. 


An  inexpensive  and  common  lure  for 
coldwater  walleye  and  other  fish  is  a shad 
dart  tipped  with  a nightcrawler.  Hook  the 
nightcrawler  at  the  very  end  and  work  the 
rig  slowly  off  the  bottom. 


When  fishing  a spinnerbait  over  and 
through  debris,  pause  occasionally  in  your 
retrieve.  The  sight  of  the  lure  changing 
pace  and  fluttering  downward  is  often 
enough  to  trigger  a strike. 


If  a crankbait  keeps  popping  to  the 
surface,  it  indicates  that  the  lip  may  be 
slightly  skewed.  By  hand  or  with  pliers 
twist  the  lip  firmly  but  not  too  hard  until 
it’s  precisely  perpendicular  to  the  plug — 
which  should  make  it  run  straight. 

Moisten  your  knots  with  saliva  before 
firming  them  up.  By  running  the 
monofilament  through  your  mouth,  friction 
is  reduced  and  the  knot  will  tighten  firmly. 

You  caught  a big  one  and  want  a picture 
of  yourself  with  your  catch.  But  it’s  raining 
and  you  don’t  want  to  get  the  camera 
soaked.  A plastic  bag,  such  as  the  lock- 
type  with  a hole  cut  in  it  to  accommodate 
the  camera  lens,  does  the  trick.  The  camera 
stays  dry  inside  the  protective  pouch. 

Cut  squares  and  rectangles  of  foam 
packing  material  to  fit  precisely  in  several 
compartments  in  your  tackle  box.  Poke  the 
hooks  of  small  spinners  and  jigs  into  the 
foam  to  keep  them  tangle-free  and  in  place. 
They  can  be  quickly  removed  when  needed. 

Cloudy  skies  and  wind  often  encourage 
gamefish  to  move  into  the  shallows  to  feed. 
Reduced  light  and  increased  oxygen 
probably  account  for  their  migration  from 
deeper  water,  even  in  midday. 

Duffel  bags,  pouches,  your  favorite 
fishing  jacket,  canvas  creels  and  other  gear 
that  closes  with  zippers  can  sometimes  get 
stubborn.  Rub  the  zipper  with  graphite 
from  the  lead  of  a soft  pencil  to  make 
them  open  and  close  smoothly. 


illustration  by  George  Lavanish 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation 
of  our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diversi- 
fied fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E.,  Executive 
Director 

Lawrence  W.  Hoffman,  Executive 
Assistant 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel/ 
Planning  & Environmental  Regulation 
John  Arway,  Division  of 
Environmental  Services 
Joseph  A.  Greene,  Legislative  Liaison 
Lois  J.  Tfelep,  Executive  Secretary 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shryl  Hood,  Division  of  Warm  water/ 
Coolwater  Fish  Ffoduction 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Services 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-6574542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-6574540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  & Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION  & 
INFORMATION 
717-6574518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  R.  White,  Graphic  Design 


28  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Leon  H.  Reed 


Commissioner  Leon  H.  Reed,  who  repre- 
sents the  northeast  region,  was  elected 
Fish  Commission  president  at  the  Com- 
mission’s July  meeting  in  Harrisburg. 
Commissioner  Reed  is  an  avid  outdoors- 
man.  He  is  a life  member  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Federation  of  Sportsmen’s  Clubs 
and  has  been  a commissioner  since  1986. 


David  D.  Coe 


Commissioner  David  D.  Coe,  who  repre- 
sents the  northcentral  region,  was  elected 
Fish  Commission  vice  president  at  the 
Commission ’s  July  meeting  in  Harrisburg. 
Commissioner  Coe  has  an  extensive  back- 
ground in  fishing,  boating  and  conserva- 
tion. He’s  a former  Boating  Advisory 
Board  member  and  has  been  a fish  com- 
missioner since  1986. 


Summer  Sweaters 

The  Commission  worked  with  several  interns  this  past  summer  in  several  bureaus  and 
divisions. 

The  Bureau  of  Education  and  Information  had  two  interns.  Sherri  Akens  worked  with 
both  the  Magazine  and  Publications  sections  of  the  bureau.  She  began  working  in  May 
and  continued  until  mid-August,  when  she  returned  to  Penn  State  University,  where  she  is 
majoring  in  print  journalism.  Jennifer  Bennett  worked  with  the  Graphic  Arts  Section  of 
the  bureau.  She  began  working  in  June  and  continued  until  the  end  of  August,  when  she 
returned  to  Ohio  State  University,  where  she  is  majoring  in  graphic  design. 

The  Bureau  of  Boating  had  two  interns  working  with  them.  Terry  Christy  served  as  an 
intern  with  the  Safety  and  Education  Division  of  the  bureau  from  last  December  until  this 
past  April.  Heidi  Homberger  worked  with  the  Safety  and  Education  Division  from  last 
May  until  the  end  of  July,  when  she  returned  to  Lock  Haven  University.  Last  month  she 
received  the  “Pennsylvania  Proud”  Award  from  television  station  WHTM-TV  (Channel 
27  in  Harrisburg)  for  her  enthusiastic  work  with  the  bureau. 

Three  interns  worked  in  the  Division  of  Fisheries  Management.  Lance  McDowell 
worked  in  Pleasant  Gap  from  the  end  of  May  until  the  end  of  July,  when  he  returned  to 
Mansfield  University.  Jeff  Smith  began  working  at  the  Somerset  station  in  mid-April  and 
will  continue  there  on  a part-time  basis.  Anthony  Vevafis  began  working  at  the  Tionesta 
station  in  June  and  continued  there  until  the  end  of  July.  He  is  also  presently  working  on 
a part-time  basis. 

The  Division  of  Fisheries  Research  also  had  interns  working  with  them  in  several  differ- 
ent areas,  although  most  of  these  interns  work  during  the  fall  and  spring.  Stacey  Halder- 
man  served  as  a work-study  student  under  PHEAA  with  Penn  State  University.  She  began 
working  in  June  and  continued  there  until  the  end  of  August.  She  received  federal  funding 
for  college  as  part  of  her  work-study  program.  Joseph  Slusark  worked  with  the  division 
from  May  until  the  end  of  July,  when  he  returned  to  Penn  State  University. 

These  students  worked  at  various  fish  culture  stations  and  research  facilities  including 
the  Van  Dyke  Research  Station,  the  Benner  Spring  Fish  Culture  Station  and  the  Lake  Erie 
Research  Unit,  where  most  of  the  work  is  done  in  the  fall. 

Other  Commission  divisions  and  bureaus  use  and  are  in  need  of  interns  on  a year- 
round  basis.  If  you  would  like  further  information  on  these  internship  opportunities,  or  if 
you  know  someone  who  might  be  interested,  please  contact: 

• Bureau  of  Education  and  Information,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673. 
Phone:  717-657-4518. 

• Bureau  of  Boating,  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Phone:  717-657-4540. 

• Bureau  of  Fisheries,  Division  of  Fisheries  Management,  450  Robinson  Lane,  Belle- 
fonte,  PA  16823-9616.  Phone:  814-359-5110. 

• Bureau  of  Fisheries,  Division  of  Research,  1225  Shiloh  Road,  State  College,  PA  16801- 
8495.  Phone:  814-355-4837. — Sherri  Akens 


1988  PAEE  Conference 

“Community:  Coming  Together  to  Share”  is  the  theme  of  the  1988  Pennsylvania  Alli- 
ance for  Environmental  Education  Conference,  to  be  held  November  11-13  at  Wilson 
College  in  Chambersburg.  There  will  be  much  to  share  in  the  form  of  programs,  field 
trips,  exhibits,  entertainment,  meetings  and  informal  discussions. 

Highlights  of  the  three-day  conference  include  an  opening  session  “Performing  Arts  for 
Environmental  Education,”  which  will  culminate  with  an  evening  performance  by  the 
participants,  Friday  afternoon  field  trips,  more  than  30  educational  workshops,  a keynote 
address  by  National  Wildlife  Federation  Chairman  Leonard  A.  Green,  and  a concert  by 
nationally  acclaimed  Appalachian  traditional  music  performer  John  McCutcheon. 

For  more  information  on  the  conference,  contact  Melodie  Stewart,  12466  Mentzer  Gap 
Road,  Waynesboro,  PA  17268. 


October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Mail 

Fish  story 

Boy,  have  I got  a fish  story  for  you!  I 
have  no  photographs  and  only  two  wit- 
nesses: my  wife,  Gail,  and  another  fisher- 
man whose  name  I didn’t  even  bother  to 
ask  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment.  You 
just  have  my  word. 

I’m  compelled  to  tell  this  story  because 
it  did  happen  and  was  one  of  the  finest 
angling  moments  in  my  life.  While  fishing 
a fly-fishing-only  section  of  the  Big 
Bushkill  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  yesterday 
morning,  I caught  two  beautiful  10-inch 
brook  trout.  So  what,  you  say.  Two  trout? 
Big  deal.  Nope,  not  unless  you  get  them 
on  the  same  cast! 

Fishing  was  slow  with  a size  16  elk  hair 
caddis  dry,  which  had  proved  deadly  the 
day  before  on  the  same  section  of  the 
river.  I decided  to  switch  to  a size  10  gold- 
ribbed  hare’s  ear,  which  had  also  taken  a 
few  nice  brook  trout.  I suddenly  remem- 
bered a friend  telling  me  that  the  Mickey 
Finn  was  an  outstanding  pattern  on  this 
river  and  I had  never  fished  one.  (I’ve  only 
fly  fished  seriously  for  a year.)  I tied  a size 
8 Mickey  Finn  on  the  end  of  the  leader, 
and  about  18  inches  above  that  was  the 
hare’s  ear  tied  on  as  a dropper.  I’d  fished 
with  droppers  for  the  first  time  last  year 
and  learned  how  effective  they  can  be. 

On  the  first  cast  my  strike  indicator 
darted  with  a hit.  I set  the  hook  and  had  a 
fish  on.  It  took  the  hare’s  ear.  Then  the 
unbelievable  happened!  I saw  a flash  in 
the  water  and  felt  more  resistance  than  the 
brookie  should  have  given.  On  playing  the 
retrieve,  I saw  another  fish  struggling!  I 
hooked  a second  brookie  on  the  Mickey 
Finn!  I couldn’t  believe  it.  I must  have 
been  a comical  sight  trying  to  net  two  fish. 
You  ever  try  it?  Two  feisty  brookies  with 
independent  fighting  instincts  (read:  direc- 
tions) and  a relatively  unseasoned  angler 
at  the  net.  I got  ‘em  after  a fashion.  While 
it  seemed  an  eternity,  I’m  sure  it  only  took 
a few  minutes. 

Later  discussions  with  angling  veterans 
told  me  “double  headers”  aren’t  that  big 
of  a deal,  but  it  sure  was  for  this  fisher- 
man! It  made  up  for  all  the  times  I’d  re- 
turned home  from  a fishing  trip  with  only 
goose  eggs. 

By  the  way,  your  magazine  is  great; 

30  October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


it’s  probably  the  only  fishing  magazine 
I read  cover  to  cover  each  issue.  Keep  up 
the  good  work. — Robert  M.  Heinrich, 
Yardley,  PA 

A Hoosier  talks 

I’d  like  to  comment  on  two  articles  that 
appeared  in  the  June  1988  Pennsylvania 
Angler — “What  Do  Anglers  Really  Know 
About  Fish  Behavior?”  by  Ken  Hunter 
and  “Rules  for  Walleye”  by  R.  L. 
Hoopes. 

As  a fisherman,  both  articles  held  my 
attention  (good  photos,  easy  reading)  and 
were  informative.  Ken  Hunter’s  piece  takes 
aim  at  some  “sacred  cows”  as  far  as  pop- 
ular ideas  about  fish  behavior  are  con- 
cerned. This  questioning  approach  is  an 
attention-getter  and  well-placed  with  this 
subject. 

While  it’s  convenient  to  believe  that  all 
fish  or  all  bass  behave  in  the  same  predict- 
able way,  it  simply  isn’t  so,  as  Hunter 
points  out  with  firsthand,  underwater  en- 
counters. Catching  bluegills  during  spawn- 
ing season  in  12  feet  of  water  or  channel 
catfish  on  the  surface  (aren’t  they  sup- 
posed to  be  “bottom  scavengers”?)  are 
some  personal  glimpses  I’ve  had  of  excep- 
tions to  the  “rules”  of  fish  behavior.  As  a 
fisheries  biologist,  I’ve  seen  and  read 
plenty  of  other  things  to  remind  me  that 
biology  is  the  science  of  variables  with  cer- 
tain tendencies  and  lots  of  exceptions! 

This  piece  is  an  interesting  article  that 
might  encourage  some  anglers  to  put  less 
stock  in  what  fish  are  supposed  to  do  and 
more  in  personally  observing  what  they  ac- 
tually do. 

“Rules  for  Walleye”  struck  a particu- 
larly receptive  chord  with  me.  Here  in  In- 
diana, our  fisheries  staff  has  just 
completed  a review  of  the  accomplish- 
ments and  problems  within  our  own  wall- 
eye program.  As  a popular-style  piece  on 
walleye  biology,  management  and  use, 
Hoopes’  article  is  very  good. 

The  “rules”  paragraphs  at  the  end  of 
each  section  effectively  express  manage- 
ment objectives  and  philosophies.  The  an- 
gler who  takes  the  time  to  read  this  article 
will  be  rewarded  with  a wealth  of  good 
information,  not  only  on  walleye  and  how 
they  are  managed,  but  why.  I believe  that 
sportsmen  display  a lot  more  support  for 
those  programs  and  management  deci- 
sions that  someone  has  taken  the  time  to 
explain  in  terms  of  why,  not  just  when, 
where  and  how.  This  article  is  full  of 
“why”  background.  The  content  is  first- 


rate. — FL/y/Zam  D.  James,  Chief  of  Fish- 
eries, Division  of  Fish  and  Wildlife, 
Indiana  Department  of  Natural  Resources, 
Indianapolis,  ID 

Commission  Kudos 

The  S.O.N.S.  of  Lake  Erie  Fishing 
Club  with  over  1,900  members  would  like 
to  congratulate  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission  for  an  outstanding  job  well- 
done  on  Walnut  Creek  Access  Area 
project. 

The  Commission  notified  the  general 
public,  explaining  what  was  to  be  done 
and  the  time  frame  of  the  project.  Work- 
ing with  limited  manpower,  but  profes- 
sional manpower,  this  job  was  completed 
well  within  the  time  frame  and  with  a sub- 
stantial savings  to  the  licensed  fishermen 
and  boat  registrants. 

Your  maintenance  crew  is  to  be  com- 
mended for  an  outstanding  job,  and  our 
hats  are  off  to  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Com- 
mission for  a job  well-done! — Ed  Kissell, 
President,  S.O.N.S.  of  Lake  Erie, 
Erie,  PA 

Pine  Tree  Stater  talks 

The  articles  “What  Do  Anglers  Really 
Know  About  Fish  Behavior”  by  Ken 
Hunter  and  “Rules  for  Walleye”  by  R.  L. 
Hoopes  in  your  June  1988  issue  were  most 
interesting  and  very  well- written.  I believe 
both  articles  would  be  easily  read  by  the 
casual  angler,  but  they  also  include  inter- 
esting observations  as  well  as  biological  in- 
formation about  the  species  that  would  be 
valuable  to  fishery  biologists  as  well. 

The  article  written  by  fishery  biologist 
Hoopes  was  developed  very  similar  to  the 
way  one  of  our  fishery  biologists  would 
have  developed  an  article  on  one  of  our 
primary  sport  species.  Although  we  have 
no  walleye  in  the  state  of  Maine,  I found 
the  article  of  great  interest  because  of  the 
similar  layout. 

With  reference  to  Ken  Hunter’s  article, 
our  fisheries  personnel  use  scuba  to  a great 
degree  in  their  evaluation  of  both 
smallmouth  bass  and  largemouth  bass 
populations.  They  have  recently  been 
working  on  new  methods  of  population 
estimation  by  use  of  scuba.  In  addition, 
one  of  our  biologists  has  noted  simi- 
lar bass  behavior  as  that  reported  by 
Ken  Hunter.— Peter  M.  Bourque, 
Director,  Fisheries  & Hatcheries  Division, 
Maine  Department  of  Inland  Fisheries 
and  Wildlife 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Bay  Stater  comments 

I just  finished  reading  the  June  1988 
Pennsylvania  Angler  and  would  like  to 
commend  you  on  the  excellent  articles  by 
Ken  Hunter  and  Rick  Hoopes.  Both  shed 
a lot  of  light  and  food  for  thought  on  the 
interesting  topic  of  natural  compensating 
mechanisms  and  behavioral  responses  of 
both  fish  (bass  and  walleye)  and  men  in  a 
given  set  of  particular  circumstances.  As 
professional  resource  managers  and  educa- 
tors of  public  resources,  we  share  the  re- 
sponsibility of  questioning  many  of  our 
own  traditionally  held  theories  and  as- 
sumptions with  respect  to  the  behavior 
and  needs  of  fish  and  wildlife  populations 
via  an  active  research  program.  We  must 
also  seek  better  ways  of  explaining  our 
findings  to  sportsmen  so  that  they  will  bet- 
ter understand  the  need  to  accept  the  alter- 
ation of  traditional  behavior  patterns  or 
special-harvest  regulations  under  a given 
set  of  natural  and  social  conditions. 

The  Angler  is  doing  a great  job  at  ful- 
filling that  responsibility.  Keep  up  the 
good  work — Richard  Cronin,  Director, 
Massachusetts  Division  of  Fisheries  & 
Wildlife 

Editor’s  note:  We  received  this  letter  a few 
days  before  Dick  Cronin’s  death  on  July 
24.  He  was  one  of  the  most  respected  and 
loved  professionals  in  his  field,  and  he  will 
be  sorely  missed. 


On  Mandatory  licensing 

I just  finished  reading  a letter  in  the  Au- 
gust 1988  Angler  regarding  the  licensing  of 
boat  operators  in  the  Commonwealth.  At 
first  glance,  this  might  not  seem  like  a 
good  idea.  However,  there  is  a lot  more  to 
operating  a boat  than  pressing  the  throttle 
forward. 

Anyone  who  has  spent  a weekend  on 
Pennsylvania  rivers  where  unlimited  horse- 
power is  permitted  has  seen  some  totally 
irresponsible  maneuvers.  These  include 
“buzzing”  fishermen,  harassing  canoes 
and  rowboats,  running  at  night  without 
lights,  speeding  through  launch  areas  and 
zooming  into  the  gas  pumps  at  marinas.  If 
a license  were  at  risk,  many  of  these  oper- 
ators would  be  more  cognizant  of  their 
actions. 

The  most  important  reason  to  license 
boat  operators  is  to  guarantee  that  at  least 
one  person  aboard  each  craft  is  old 
enough  to  handle  an  emergency.  I have  no 
doubt  that  an  experienced  youngster  can 
run  a boat  from  point  A to  B as  long  as 
there  are  no  unusual  circumstances.  When 
a fire  breaks  out,  when  the  plug  pops  out, 
or  when  the  propeller  has  a blade  snapped 
by  an  underwater  obstruction,  the  inexpe- 
rienced is  at  the  mercy  of  the  water.  Under 
most  conditions  this  would  not  be  life- 
threatening. 

Close  to  a lock  or  dam,  there  is  a differ- 
ent urgency  to  any  unusual  happening. 
Being  on  Lake  Erie  when  the  wind  creates 
whitecaps  so  has  a potential  for  real  trou- 
ble when  there  is  a youngster  in  charge. 

Spend  a day  at  the  Walnut  Creek  Access 
in  Erie  and  watch  the  launch  ramp.  You 
will  see  a little  bit  of  everything,  from 
high-speed  reverse  into  the  Fish  Commis- 
sion’s moored  rescue  boat  to  bouncing  a 
boat  onto  the  concrete  launch  ramp  and 
going  without  a second  look  for  damage. 

We  really  need  some  sort  of  control  over 
who  uses  the  water  and  a license  is  the  best 
answer. — Charles  T.  Evans,  Jefferson 
Boro,  PA 


My  son  David  and  my  grandson  Jason 
(left)  fished  Mud  Run,  near  Albrightsville, 
last  May.  Jason  was  five  months  old  and 
got  to  see  and  touch  his  first  trout.  You 
can  never  start  a kid  fishing  too  young. 
I’m  a new  subscriber  to  your  magazine 
and  enjoy  the  many  fine  articles. — Larry 
Osterberg,  South  River,  NJ 


Wolverine  stater  talks 

Enclosed  is  the  fee  for  my  non-resident 
fishing  license.  Also  enclosed  is  a $10 
check  for  coldwater/trout  research.  I grew 
up  in  Pennsylvania  and  love  and  miss  it, 
so  I feel  I can  do  some  long-distance  help. 
Last  year  I received  the  inseason  trout 
stocking  list  after  the  season  opened.  I 
want  to  bring  some  friends  to  fish  Penn- 
sylvania and  have  them  catch  trout.  If  I 
could  receive  the  trout  stocking  list  before 
the  season  opens,  it  would  be  helpful.  I 
gave  a Pennsylvania  Angler  to  a fishery 
biologist  from  the  Michigan  Department 
of  Natural  Resources  and  he  loves  it 
and  said  thanks.— James  A.  Singer, 
Detroit,  MI 


Proud  of  a trout 


The  photo  above  is  a 19-inch  brown 
trout  caught  and  released  on  the  Delaware 
River  in  Stalker,  PA.  Members  of  the 
North  Jersey  Chapter  of  Trout  Unlimited, 
my  friends  and  I have  caught  and  released 
numerous  nice  wild  trout  on  this  stretch  of 
the  river,  located  just  north  of  Hankins, 
NY.  The  hole  from  which  the  fish  was 
caught  is  known  by  us  regulars  as  Jaws 
Pool.  It  is  the  confluence  of  Basket  Brook 
and  the  Delaware.  My  favorite  fly  for  this 
area  is  a size  14  Light  Cahill  because  it’s 
the  easiest  fly  for  me  to  see  on  the  water. 

I can  only  compare  fly  fishing  for  these 
wild  trout  on  the  Delaware  with  sport  on 
the  western  streams  of  Montana  and  Wyo- 
ming. In  years  past,  brown  trout  were  pre- 
dominant in  this  area  of  the  river,  but  we 
have  noticed  that  recently  the  rainbows 
seem  to  be  more  numerous  with  fewer 
browns  caught.  Second  to  the  big  Del- 
aware our  next  choice  in  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania is  the  Lackawaxen  River,  which 
also  offers  some  good  dry  fly  fishing.  We 
enjoy  your  magazine  very  much.  Keep  up 
the  good  work. — Bill  Clark,  Lake 
Hopatcong,  NJ 

October  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


■November  1988/S1. 


m? 

'■’»  A 

• 

Straight 

Talk 

Merger  Study  Reveals 
Separate  Independent 
Agency  Successes 
and  Needs 

On  September  21,  1987,  the  Joint  Legislative 
Budget  and  Finance  Committee  met  in  Har- 
risburg to  accept  the  interim  report  on  a 
study  to  determine  the  impact  and  financial 
feasibility  of  combining  the  Pennsylvania 
Fish  and  Game  Commissions.  Senator  Clar- 
ence D.  Bell,  chairman  of  the  committee, 
opened  the  discussion  by  stating,  “It  will  not 
be  the  function  of  this  committee  to  deter- 
mine if  the  Game  and  Fish  Commissions 
should  be  merged.  That  would  require  a leg- 
islative response.” 

Committee  members  in  attendance  or  rep- 
resented included  senators  Clarence  D.  Bell, 
chairman,  Patrick  J.  Stapleton,  vice  chair- 
man, John  J.  Shumaker,  and  representatives 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


Ronald  C.  Raymond,  Howard  L.  Fargo, 
Henry  Livengood  and  Joseph  R.  Pitts. 

The  Commission  deeply  appreciates  their 
interest  in  this  study  and  their  objective  guid- 
ance to  the  study  team. 

Fish  commissioners  Leonard  Green  and 
Wayne  Yorks,  together  with  Boating  Advi- 
sory Board  Chairman  Thaddeus  Piotrowski, 
were  in  attendance,  along  with  key  Commis- 
sion staff  members  and  several  interested 
sportsmen. 

Although  this  151 -page  report  included  no 
conclusions  or  recommendations,  it  shows 
that  both  agencies  have  functioned  success- 
fully with  minimal  funding  and  staffing  lev- 
els, supported  by  many  hours  of  dedicated 
effort  from  highly  motivated  volunteers.  It 
also  demonstrates  that  current  growth  in  the 
Fish  Commission’s  fishing  and  boating  pro- 
grams continues  to  build  pressure  on  aquatic 
resources  of  the  Commonwealth,  thereby 
mandating  expansion  of  present  programs 
and  related  activities  to  permit  Pennsylvania 
to  retain  its  current  leadership  role. 

The  study  shows  the  Game  Commission 
has  been  able  to  continue  a valuable  game 
acquisition  and  management  program,  ex- 
pending nearly  $5  million  for  new  gamelands 
in  1987,  while  inflationary  cost  increases  and 
limited  revenues  have  forced  the  Fish  Com- 
mission to  reduce  its  land  and  water  acquisi- 
tion efforts  severely  to  $11,000  during  the 
same  period. 

The  study  reveals  that  91.4  percent  of  the 
Fish  Commission  expenditures  are  for  per- 
sonnel and  operating  costs,  allowing  only  8.6 
percent  ($1,952,100)  for  new  initiatives  and 
progressive  program  needs,  such  as  major  fa- 
cility improvements  and  developments,  land 
acquisition,  research  initiatives,  equipment 
purchase  and  replacements,  and  other  ex- 
penditures needed  to  maintain  a viable, 
growing  public  service  organization.  A pro- 
gressive and  properly  funded  program  should 
have  15  to  20  percent  of  its  funds  for  these 
discretionary  prioritized  uses. 

Information  included  in  the  interim  report 
also  shows  that  the  two  commissions  were 
charged  in  excess  of  $1.37  million  by  other 
Commonwealth  agencies  to  monitor  and  au- 
dit Fish,  Boat  and  Game  activities.  This 
means  that  nearly  120,000  fishing  and  hunt- 
ing licenses  must  be  sold  to  meet  these 
charges  before  beneficial  programs  can  be 
funded. 

I commented  to  the  Committee  that  the 
Commission  staff  has  worked  very  closely 
with  the  study  team,  and  at  our  first  meeting 
pointed  out  the  necessity  to  expand  the  study 
to  include  boating,  a major  element  of  the 
Fish  Commission  program  involving  more 
than  2.5  million  Pennsylvania  citizens. 

I continued  with  the  following  comments: 

“The  study  effort  is  demonstrating  how 
frugally  and  effectively  the  Fish  Commission 
has  functioned  as  a small,  independent 
agency,  and  that  it  is  involved  in  many  spe- 
cialized programs  that  are  vastly  different 
from  those  of  its  sister  agency. 


“The  Commission  is  governed  by  a 10- 
member  board  of  commissioners,  along  with 
a 5-member  Boating  Advisory  Board  that 
advises  the  commissioners  on  matters  per- 
taining to  boats  and  boating.  This  governing 
system  has  maintained  a close,  effective  liai- 
son with  the  fishing  and  boating  public  at  an 
unbelievably  small  cost.  The  study  is  also 
demonstrating  the  high  level  of  employee 
dedication  and  loyalty  enjoyed  by  these  small 
Commonwealth  agencies. 

“The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  un- 
der the  current  separate,  independent  struc- 
ture has  been  able  to  develop  and  operate 
one  of  the  most  modem,  efficient  and  highly 
respected  fisheries  management,  fisheries  re- 
search, and  fish  culture  programs  in  the 
world.  These  programs  by  their  very  nature 
are  vastly  different  from  the  Game  Commis- 
sion’s responsibilities. 

“The  study  reveals  that  the  Fish  Commis- 
sion, under  the  restrictions  of  an  inadequate 
boat  registration  system,  i.e.,  no  registration 
change  for  24  years  and  over  100,000  boats 
exempted,  has  been  able  to  develop  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  highly  respected  boating 
programs  in  the  United  States.  No  other 
Commonwealth  agency  has  this  fishing  and 
boating  expertise. 

“The  report  also  shows  that  the  two  agen- 
cies have  developed  new  cooperative  efforts 
in  recent  years,  and  explains  continuing  en- 
deavors to  expand  cooperative  efforts  further 
where  public  benefits  and  cost  savings  can  be 
clearly  demonstrated. 

“Statistics  revealed  by  study  activities  to 
date  show  that  public  interest  and  participa- 
tion in  protection  of  Pennsylvania’s  aquatic 
resources,  and  enjoyment  of  the  fishing  and 
boating  recreation  provided  by  the  Fish 
Commission,  continue  to  grow  rapidly, 
thereby  illustrating  the  urgent  need  to  de- 
velop adequate  funding  sources  within  the 
fishing  and  boating  constituency  to  meet  the 
costs  of  these  increasing  public  needs. 

“In  summary,  we  commend  the  commit- 
tee study  team  for  its  efforts  to  date  and  anx- 
iously await  its  continuing  efforts.  We  predict 
the  study  results  will  clearly  reveal  the  exist- 
ing success  of  Pennsylvania’s  fishing,  boating 
and  wildlife  programs,  and  will  demonstrate 
that  sound  logic  and  existing  strong  public 
support  urge  continuation  of  the  current, 
highly  successful,  separate  and  independent 
Fish  Commission  and  Game  Commission 
structure.” 

There  is  overwhelming  evidence  of  very 
strong  support  for  the  present  separate/ 
independent  Commission  system  among  the 
knowledgeable  and  well-informed  public. 
Both  Commissions  ask  that  these  sportsmen 
and  boaters  express  their  concerns  about 
merger  efforts  to  their  fellow  Pennsylvanians 
and  elected  members  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly. The  Fish  Commission  intends  to  con- 
tinue serious  efforts  to  correct  valid  program 
deficiencies  revealed  by  the  study  team, 
thereby  further  strengthening  present  pro- 
grams and  resultant  public  benefits. 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Leon  Reed 
President 
Honesdale 
David  Coe 
Vice  President 
State  College 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 
T.  T.  Metzger,  Jr. 

Johnstown 
Joan  R.  Plumly 
Jenkintown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 


November  1988  Vol.  57  No.  11 


Pennsylvania 


hT 

The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


OCT  28  1988 


A Family  Outdoor  Adventure  by  Laura  J.  Rupert 
A picture-perfect  canoe  trip  makes  memories  that  last  a lifetime 4 


The  Trout  of  Autumn  by  Jim  Bashline 

Catching  trout  now  means  knowing  where  they  are  in  the  stream  and 


what  to  tempt  them  with 7 

KIDS  PAGE!  by  Steve  LJlsh 

Finding  where  fish  are  so  you  can  catch  them  is  some  game 11 


A Year  in  the  Life  by  Charlie  Hobbs 
Reminiscing  at  just  the  right  moment  is  sweet 12 


Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Chairman 
Bloomsburg 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Helen  B.  Lange 
Sharpsville 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 

Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 

Intern — Sherri  Akens 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Intern — Jennifer  Bennett 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 

Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN003 1-434X)  is  published  monthly  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harrisburg, 
PA  17109.©  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted  with- 
out the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission. 
Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1.50  each.  Sec- 
ond class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send 
address  changes  to:  Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion, P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For  subscription 
and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow  six  weeks 
for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Penn- 
sylvania Angler  P.O.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edito- 
rial queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be 
accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material  ac- 
cepted for  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  tran- 
sit. The  authors’  views,  ideas  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


“Hey,  Mister  . . . ” by  Paula  Dubbs 
Hey,  litterbug,  this  one’s  for  you 14 

French  Creek  Trophies  by  Dari  Black 
You’re  not  going  to  believe  how  big  walleye  can  get  in  this  waterway.  . . 16 


Molding,  Making  and  Tying  the  Bucktail  and  Jig 

by  C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 

Start  this  project  now  and  you’ll  be  occupied  all  winter  and  set  for 


action  in  spring 20 

The  Rescue  by  Paul  Jenkins 

All  boating  anglers  should  learn  this  lesson 24 

Crappies:  The  11th  Hour  Bonanza  by  J.  B.  Kasper 
Right  now  is  a terrific  time  to  tempt  slab-sides 26 


The  cover 

This  month’s  picturesque  cover,  photographed  by  Jim  Bashline,  is 
dedicated  to  fall  trout  anglers.  The  picture  could  inspire  you  to  get  in  some 
late-season  angling,  especially  after  reading  the  details  in  the  article  on  page 
7.  If  you’ve  stored  your  tackle  and  would  like  to  take  on  a project  this 
winter,  see  page  20.  Want  some  great  panfish  action  right  now?  Check  out 
page  26  before  you  go.  Lastly,  read  the  article  on  page  4 if  you  like  perfect 
family  stories. 


STATE  LIBRARY  OF  PENNSYXVANI i 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


A Family  Outdooi 


were  looking  forward  to 
a three-day  vacation  dur- 
ing mid-July  at  my  pa- 
rents’ home  near  Newport,  PA.  We 
planned  to  fish  the  Juniata  River— a 
“smallmouth  bass  paradise”  we  enjoyed 
on  previous  fishing  trips.  We  could  hardly 
wait  to  spend  a leisurely  day  floating  the 
Juniata. 

My  husband  and  1,  our  two  small  chil- 
dren, my  parents  and  a young  niece  would 
soon  be  enjoying  a day  of  fishing  and  fun. 
This  would  be  a first-time  adventure  for 
Matt,  our  21 -month-old  son,  and  Nicole, 
my  six-year-old  niece.  My  four-year-old 
daughter,  Missy,  was  already  an  old  pro, 
having  canoed  several  times  on  the  Juniata 
and  on  many  other  streams.  Her  first  ca- 
noe trip  was  taken  at  the  tender  age  of  14 
months,  shortly  after  she’d  learned  to 
walk.  We  took  her  at  such  a young  age  in 
hopes  she’d  learn  to  enjoy  our  favorite 
pastime:  fishing  and  canoeing.  Our  strat- 
egy has  paid  off  well  in  three  short  years, 
and  now  she’s  a joy  to  take  along. 

1 wholeheartedly  encourage  other  par- 
ents to  take  their  children  canoeing  with 
them  even  when  they’re  toddlers.  The  re- 
wards are  great  and  youngsters  love  the 
outdoors.  With  a safety-minded  loving 
parent’s  guidance,  children  can  be  taught 
to  enjoy  outdoor  activities.  Youngsters 
crave  adventure,  and  what  could  be  more 
exciting  than  riding  in  their  daddy’s  canoe 
and  learning  how  to  fish?  The  highlight  of 
the  day  could  be  the  moment  your  child 
reels  in  that  very  first  fish.  The  smile  on  a 
little  face  and  glowing  pride  in  the  accom- 
plishment means  more  than  mere  words 
can  describe.  Memories  are  created  from 
moments  like  these:  images  that  parents 
and  kids  never  forget. 

Our  children’s  comfort  was  top  priority 
today,  but  nevertheless  we  hoped  to  experi- 
ence some  quality  fishing  along  the  way. 
We  anticipated  floating  four  hours,  and 
that  can  seem  like  an  eternity  to  a small 
child.  Our  experience  taught  us  to  pack 
plenty  of  snacks  and  refreshments  for  the 
day  ahead.  Also  packed  were  a few  of 
Matt’s  favorite  toys  to  help  keep  him  occu- 
pied. We  hoped  to  end  the  trip  without 
catastrophies  such  as  capsizing  the  canoe. 

We’ve  never  encountered  any  major 
problems  taking  one  child  along,  but  with 


two,  this  was  a whole  new  ballgame.  My 
parents  were  taking  Nicole  with  them  and 
this  was  her  first  time  ever  in  a canoe.  Her 
Grandpa  made  sure  she  understood  a few 
safety  rules  to  follow  while  canoeing. 

The  next  order  of  business  was  securing 
life  vests  on  the  three  children.  Missy  was 
the  only  swimmer  among  the  youngsters 
and  we  intended  to  teach  Matt  in  the  near 
future.  My  husband  and  I think  it  is  im- 
perative that  both  our  children  know  how 


to  swim,  especially  because  we  enjoy  ca- 
noeing so  much. 

After  we  made  last-minute  preparations 
we  packed  the  gear  in  the  canoes  and  we 
were  ready  to  go.  Dad’s  homemade 
wooden  chair  fit  snugly  in  the  center  of 
our  canoe  and  was  intended  for  Matt  to 
use  during  the  trip.  He  refused  in  typical 
toddler  style,  deciding  he’d  rather  sit  on 
the  uncomfortable  deck.  I couldn’t  per- 
suade him  to  change  his  mind  so  I didn’t 


/ wholeheartedly  encourage  other  parents  to 
take  their  children  canoeing  with  them  even 
when  they’re  toddlers. 


4 November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Laura  J.  Rupert 


but  I’d  bet  she’d  have  joined  him  if  given 
the  opportunity. 

I tied  the  bass  securely  to  the  stringer 
and  watched  as  my  son  created  a new 
game.  He  spent  the  next  few  minutes  lift- 
ing the  fish  in  and  out  of  the  water.  He 
enjoyed  himself,  though  I’m  never  sur- 
prised at  what  will  amuse  him  next. 

We  watched  in  amazement  as  many 
bass  surfaced  and  flipped  out  of  the  water. 
We  wondered  why  the  fish  were  exhibiting 
such  an  unusual  amount  of  activity  today. 
I decided  to  fish  with  a surface  plug,  and  I 
tossed  the  lure  against  the  weedy  shoreline. 
Suddenly  the  water  exploded  and  I saw  the 
dark,  underwater  image  of  a large  bass 
grasping  the  lure  in  its  mouth.  At  once  I 
set  the  hook  while  the  fighting 
smallmouth  leaped  out  of  the  water.  I 
frantically  reeled  in  the  line,  keeping  it 
tight  and  reducing  the  slack.  Again  I 
watched  the  bass  leap  out  of  the  water  be- 
fore falling  in  a terrific  splash.  With  rod 
tip  held  high,  I played  the  fish  for  several 
minutes  before  guiding  it  into  the  waiting 
net.  1 admired  the  15-inch  smallmouth 
bass  before  adding  it  to  our  stringer. 

Fishing  action  was  a bit  slow  for 
Mom,  so  I loaned  her  a spare  sur- 
face plug  to  use  in  place  of  her  white  jig. 
Within  minutes  Mom  experienced  several 
powerful  strikes,  but  unfortunately 
couldn’t  hook  a bass.  Apparently  she  was 
incorrectly  setting  the  hook.  Dad  sug- 
gested that  she  reel  the  line  a bit  slower 
and  twitch  the  rod  tip  every  few  seconds  to 
help  the  lure  become  more  active.  Several 
attempts  later,  Mom  felt  a blistering  strike 
and  successfully  landed  a legal-size  bass. 
She  had  Dad’s  instructions  down  pat  and 
eventually  reeled  in  bass  after  bass. 

The  girls  begged  to  fish,  so  we  decided 
to  help  them  catch  a few.  Who  could 
blame  them  for  tiring  of  being  just  specta- 
tors? They  also  deserved  to  enjoy  the 
fun.  Missy’s  Dad  cast  her  line  far  from  the 
canoe  and  now  it  was  her  responsibility  to 
reel  it  back  in.  She  was  proud  to  be  fishing 
on  her  own  and  stood  imitating  her  “fish- 
erman” father.  Nicole’s  Grandpa  was 
teaching  her  to  fish  also,  and  she  eagerly 
obeyed  his  every  instruction. 

Several  minutes  later  Nicole  shouted. 
She  had  just  caught  her  very  first  fish.  Ev- 
eryone loudly  clapped  when  she  proudly 
held  up  the  little  eight-inch  fish.  Missy  was 
now  more  determined  than  ever  to  catch 
one,  too.  In  a short  time  she  helped  her 
Dad  reel  in  a fair-sized  smallmouth  caught 
on  a jointed  plug.  Both  girls  were  proud 


Adventure 


by  Laura  J.  Rupert 


The  author’s  floating  the  Juniata  was  a 
family  affair. 

object  when  Missy  quickly  slipped  into  his 
seat.  I held  my  breath,  expecting  a battle 
to  erupt  over  the  seat,  but  fortunately 
Matt’s  attention  was  elsewhere  at  the 
moment. 

With  everyone  settled  comfortably  in 
position,  we  shoved  off  from  shore  and 
began  the  six-mile  float  trip.  A vehicle 
would  be  waiting  for  us  when  we  arrived 
at  a friend’s  home  along  the  river. 


weather  was  hot  and  humid 
A iit^with  temperatures  expected  to 
remain  near  90  degrees.  Everyone  applied 
sunblock  and  we  made  sure  that  the  chil- 
dren were  well-coated.  The  last  thing  any- 
one wanted  was  to  suffer  a nasty  sunburn. 
Hats  and  sun  visors  were  a necessity  to 
shield  our  faces. 

Just  after  launching  the  canoes  we  no- 
ticed several  bass  surfacing  and  jumping 
out  of  the  water.  Missy  and  Nicole  in- 
vented a game  of  counting  the  fish  they 
saw.  Both  girls  were  anxious  to  count  more 
than  the  other.  We  paddled  into  a deep 
pool  under  the  Newport  Bridge,  a fisher- 
man’s dream  with  the  reputation  for  good 
musky  fishing. 

We  decided  to  try  our  luck  here,  so  ev- 


eryone tossed  their  lines  into  the  promising 
riffles.  I fished  with  a three-inch  imitation 
shiner  and  after  several  unsuccessful  casts 
I hooked  a scrappy  12-inch  smallmouth 
bass.  Missy  waited  anxiously  to  touch  the 
fish,  and  after  a quick  examination  we 
released  it  together  into  the  water.  She  en- 
thusiastically cheered  me  on  to  catch  an- 
other and  I quickly  obliged  her.  Instantly  I 
reeled  in  another  bass  and  we  replayed  the 
entire  scene,  this  time  immediately  releas- 
ing a much  smaller  eight-inch  bass. 

Dad  was  having  similar  luck  and  Nicole 
screamed  with  excitement  the  minute 
he  reeled  in  his  catch.  She  was  thrilled 
when  she  was  allowed  to  release  the  fish  by 
herself. 

The  three  children  seemed  to  be  enjoy- 
ing themselves  and  I was  pleased  they  were 
so  well-behaved.  Matt  was  quietly  watch- 
ing all  the  action  and  didn’t  become  ex- 
cited until  his  Daddy  reeled  in  a beautiful 
14-inch  smallmouth.  Matt  giggled  with  de- 
light while  the  fish  flopped  around  the 
bottom  of  the  canoe.  Immediately  he  of- 
fered his  assistance  by  tugging  on  the  fish- 
ing line  while  his  Dad  had  difficulty 
freeing  the  bass  from  all  the  tangles. 

Matt’s  curiosity  was  great,  satisfied 
once  he  inspected  the  fish.  Quickly  he 
grabbed  the  slippery  bass  and  gave  it  a 
“fish  hug”  to  show  his  delight.  Missy  was 
oohing  and  ahing  at  her  brother’s  antics, 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


A flopping  smallmouth  on  a stringer  is 
an  adventure  for  a 2-year-old,  even  when 
the  child  is  completely  out  of  steam  for 
the  afternoon  after  missing  a nap. 


and  enjoyed  releasing  the  fish. 

We  canoed  on  and  continued  our  suc- 
cess. We  kept  two  bass  on  the  stringer  and 
let  several  go.  The  girls  questioned  why  we 
didn’t  keep  them  all,  and  their  Grandpa 
taught  them  that  the  fish  that  were  re- 
leased could  now  grow  to  be  bigger  fish. 

Matt  was  growing  restless  and  hot,  so 
I gave  him  a cold  drink.  After  fin- 
ishing the  soda  he  gobbled  up  several 
crackers,  and  I hoped  this  would  tide  him 
over  until  lunch.  We  hunted  shady  areas  to 
float  under,  near  the  riverbank,  and  we 
lingered  there  to  escape  the  hot  sun. 

The  heat  was  unbearable  and  soon  the 
girls  announced  that  they  needed  a break. 
We  found  a cool,  shady  shoreline  where 
we  decided  to  stop  and  rest.  Everyone  wel- 
comed the  chance  to  row  ashore  and 
stretch  their  legs.  In  an  instant  Missy  and 
Nicole  were  splashing  water  on  each  other, 
trying  to  cool  off.  Soon  they  were  com- 
pletely soaked  from  all  their  horseplay. 
They  needed  no  coaxing  to  jump  in  the 
river  and  soon  were  enjoying  a refreshing 
dip.  I grabbed  the  camera  and  took  pho- 
tos of  the  girls  playing  in  the  water. 

Little  Matt  was  tempted  to  join  them 
but  wasn’t  brave  enough  to  venture  far 


from  shore.  He  felt  content  just  getting  the 
tips  of  his  shoes  wet.  Soon  he  discovered 
the  beach  pebbles  and  enjoyed  throwing 
them  in  the  water,  laughing  at  each  splash. 
My  parents  couldn’t  resist  the  inviting, 
cool  water,  and  they  joined  Missy  and  Ni- 
cole for  a swim.  While  the  foursome 
swam  and  cooled  off,  I prepared  lunch. 

A half-hour  later  they  joined  us  on  dry 
land  and  everyone  enjoyed  a bite  to  eat. 
We  relaxed  a while  and  felt  much  refreshed 
from  our  break.  Two  bass  splashed  20  feet 
from  shore  and  1 announced  that  they 
probably  were  teasing  us  to  try  and  catch 
them.  We’d  be  doing  that  soon  enough  as 
we  began  the  final  leg  of  our  journey. 

Matt  was  tired  and  grouchy  because 
now  was  his  naptime.  He  could  barely 
keep  his  eyes  open,  and  this  created  a 
unique  situation.  There  was  no  bed  in  the 
canoe,  so  the  only  alternative  was  for  him 
to  snuggle  comfortably  on  his  Daddy’s 
lap.  My  husband  held  him  close  to  his 
chest  and  a few  minutes  later  the  sleepy 
little  boy  closed  his  eyes  and  nodded  off. 
Both  canoes  peacefully  drifted  down- 
stream while  we  enjoyed  the  beautiful 
scenery. 


11  at  once  the  silence  was  broken. 
Nicole  shouted,  “Niagara  Falls,  Ni- 
agara Falls!”  Sure  enough,  we  approached 
a swift  set  of  rapids  that  resembled  a min- 
iature waterfall.  Dad  was  caught  off 
guard,  so  the  canoe  quickly  drifted  to  the 
point  of  no  return.  We  watched  both  my 


parents  frantically  paddle  the  canoe 
through  the  turbulent  water.  We  looked  on 
as  they  bounced  from  rock  to  rock,  seem- 
ingly headed  for  disaster. 

Nicole  and  Mom  screamed,  but  of 
course  it  was  too  late  to  turn  back.  Dad 
relied  on  some  skillful  maneuvering  with 
Mom’s  help  to  navigate  the  rapids  safely. 

Now  it  was  our  turn  to  follow  their 
lead,  and  1 felt  a bit  apprehensive.  I was 
relieved  when  my  hubby  thought  of  a 
clever  plan.  We  paddled  the  canoe  on  a 
different  route  and  escaped  trouble  by 
guiding  the  boat  through  a much  calmer 
stretch.  The  ride  was  so  calm  that  Matt 
never  even  stirred.  Everyone  laughed  when 
we  realized  he  slept  through  the  entire 
“Niagara  experience.” 

The  canoes  rounded  a large  bend  in  the 
river  and  we  easily  saw  our  takeout  point. 
Immediately  to  our  right  was  a steep  rock 
ledge  with  a pool  of  deep,  still  water  be- 
low. We  tried  a variety  of  lures  there  in 
hopes  of  catching  a nice  bass.  Mom  tar- 
geted a frog-colored  surface  lure  near  the 
base  of  the  rock  wall,  and  suddenly  out  of 
the  depths  a tremendous  bass  ambushed 
the  lure.  Instantly  the  battle  began. 

Mom  held  tightly  onto  her  rod  while 
the  smallie  struggled  to  break  free.  The 
mighty  fish  pulled  until  it  disappeared  un- 
der the  canoe.  Mom  tightly  held  the  line, 
waiting  for  the  bass  to  reappear.  Seconds 
later  the  fish  furiously  swam  toward  the 
rock  ledge.  While  Mom  quickly  reeled  in 
the  line,  the  angry  bass  vigorously  leaped 
out  of  the  water.  Curious  spectators 
watched  the  scene  from  shore,  hoping  to 
get  a glimpse  of  the  fish.  We  coached 
Mom  from  our  canoe.  Before  long  the 
battling  smallmouth  showed  signs  of  tir- 
ing. Mom  reeled  the  fish  toward  the  canoe 
while  Dad  grabbed  the  net. 

What  a relief  at  last  to  see  a beautiful 
20-inch,  five-pound  smallmouth  bass  lying 
on  the  bottom  of  the  canoe!  We  admired 
the  fine  catch  and  congratulated  a very 
happy  “fisherwoman.”  Grandma  received 
many  happy  hugs  from  her  grandchildren, 
who  watched  the  event.  Unbelievably, 
Matt  slept  through  the  commotion  and 
was  just  now  opening  his  eyes. 

We  paddled  downstream  and  arrived  at 
our  destination.  As  I glanced  over  at  my 
smiling  Mom,  I thought  to  myself,  what  a 
fitting  end  to  such  a memorable  day.  Once 
ashore,  the  children  gathered  around  their 
Grandma  while  I took  a few  snapshots  of 
the  happy  family.  Of  course,  Mom  posed 
with  her  “prize  catch.” 

This  photo  told  the  whole  story  of  our 
wonderful  day  of  family  fishing. 


6 November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Bashline 


The  Ttout  of 

Autumn 

by  Jim  Bashline 


No  matter  how  hard  we  try,  catching  trout 
during  the  steamy  days  of  summer  is  ex- 
ceedingly difficult.  Streams  are  clear  and 
low,  fish  are  wary  and  the  prolific  hatches 
of  spring  are  a memory.  Many  how-to  ar- 
ticles and  even  entire  books  have  touted 
this  or  that  technique  or  “never-miss”  fly, 
lure  or  bait  that  can  save  us  from  fishless 
days  in  August.  I must  confess  that  I’ve 
done  some  summertime  soothsaying,  too, 
but  we’d  probably  be  happier  anglers  if  we 
eased  up  a bit  during  the  hottest  days.  If 
you  don’t  enjoy  fishing  during  the  black 
hours,  wait  until  the  cool  days  of  fall  ar- 
rive. Magic  things  begin  to  happen. 

Almost  as  quickly  as  the  calendar 
“says”  it’s  fall,  the  clouds  that  didn’t  want 
to  give  up  any  rain  might  do  so  and  the 
additional  water  will  trigger  the  trout’s  ap- 
petite. Even  if  few  showers  materialize, 
cool  evenings  will  lower  stream  tempera- 
tures and  cause  the  same  effect.  The  dry 
fly  specialist  can  discover  that  fish  that 
showed  no  interest  in  the  best  offerings  a 
few  weeks  previously  are  now  far  more  ea- 
ger to  rise.  More  insects,  and  particularly 
the  kinds  trout  like  to  eat,  are  more  availa- 
ble. Land-born  creatures,  the  hoppers, 
crickets,  beetles  and  the  like,  are  also  acti- 
vated by  the  signs  of  autumn.  Minnows 
begin  to  risk  moving  away  from  the  sum- 
mer cover  in  search  of  their  own  micro- 
scopic menus  and  the  new  frogs  of  the 
year  are  bite-size — for  the  trout,  that  is. 

I don’t  believe  that  trout  actually  think 
about  filling  their  bellies  before  winter  ar- 
rives, but  they  certainly  are  more  active  be- 
ginning about  September  15  and  remain 
so  until  serious  winter  weather  tranquilizes 
them  once  more.  But  let’s  not  think  about 
ice  and  snow  yet.  The  autumn  fishing  in 
Pennsylvania  is  the  dessert  of  the  year’s 
fishing  banquet.  Let’s  linger  over  it. 

Startling  discovery 

Approximately  40  years  ago  I made 
what  I thought  at  the  time  was  a startling 
discovery.  It  was  that  trout  did  not  “go  to 
sleep”  when  the  official  trout  season  was 
over.  In  those  days,  keeping  trout  was  for- 
bidden after  July  31.  Trout  were  occasion- 
ally caught  by  anglers  for  bass,  muskies  or 
panfish,  and  a few  were  caught  on  pur- 
pose by  fly  fishermen  who  released  their 
trout.  It  was  not  technically  illegal  to  catch 
trout  during  the  abbreviated  seasons  of 
those  days,  but  it  was  forbidden  to  kill  or 
possess  them.  On  a lovely  September 
afternoon,  I noted,  while  walking  across 
the  old  Chestnut  Street  Bridge  in  Couder- 
sport,  that  a dozen  or  more  trout  were 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  1 


slurping  some  sort  of  surface  food  in  the 
pool  immediately  downstream.  I had  no 
idea  what  the  attraction  might  be,  but  they 
sure  were  going  at  it,  and  within  15  min- 
utes I had  raced  home,  grabbed  my  rod 
and  was  slashing  away  with  some  sort  of 
dry  fly. 

The  dry  didn’t  work  at  all.  The  fish 
refused  every  pattern  I tried  (I  only  had 
about  three  different  dries  in  my  box  at 
that  time),  and  for  some  reason  or  other  I 
switched  to  a string  of  wet  flies.  Fishing 
them  in  the  traditional  early-season  jiggle- 
and-jerk  manner,  I managed  to  seduce  a 
half-dozen  brown  trout. 

From  that  day  until  this  one,  I continue 
to  have  faith  in  a trio  of  wet  flies  fished 
across  and  downstream  whenever  I see 
trout  rising  in  the  fall.  For  many  years  I 
mistakenly  thought  I was  one  of  the  cho- 
sen few  who  had  stumbled  on  this  secret. 
Later,  after  discussing  the  matter  with 
some  Potter  County  veterans,  I learned 
that  downstream  wet  fly  fishing  was  the 
only  way  most  fly  anglers  fished  during 
the  50  years  before  the  mid-1930s.  In  fact, 
dry  flies  and  the  new-fangled  streamers 
were  practically  unheard  of  before  then. 

Pennsylvania  wet  fly  gurus  Charlie  Wet- 
zel, James  Leisenring  and  John  Alden 
Knight  had  done  considerable  autumn  wet 
fly  fishing  before  I was  bom.  So  much  for 
new  discoveries! 

Before  we  leave  the  matter  of  wet  flies 
in  the  fall,  it  should  be  noted  that  such 
fishing  is  mostly  ignored  these  days.  Fly 
fishermen  are  all  caught  up  with  such 
things  as  terrestrials — you  know,  jassids 
and  other  microscopia  when  fall  fishing  is 
upon  us.  Long  leaders,  learned  discussions 
of  Baetis,  Tricos  and  how  to  make  drag- 
free  drifts  over  difficult  fish  appear  to  raise 
autumn  angling  to  the  level  of  brain  sur- 
gery. If  a certain  type  of  fishing  turns  you 
on,  so  be  it.  But  I’ll  bet  on  a trio  of  size  14 
or  16  wet  flies  fished  downstream  over  the 
upstream  dry  fly  on  any  fall  day. 

Dry  flies 

Quickly  switching  gears,  I must  now 
turn  this  autumn  odyssey  to  dry  flies. 
Huh,  how’s  that?  I know,  I know,  I just 
made  a case  for  downstream  wet  fly  fish- 
ing and  now  I’m  inserting  another 
“player”  in  the  game.  Not  totally. 

One  of  the  reasons,  perhaps  the  most 
important  one,  that  downstream  wet  flies 
work  so  well  in  the  fall  is  because  the  trout 
don’t  see  the  leader  before  they  see  the  fly. 
Yes,  trout  are  hungrier  when  the  water 
cools  a bit  in  the  fall,  but  they  are  still 
wary  from  a summer  of  dodging  blue  her- 


8 November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Bashline 


Fishing  a wet  fly  downstream  in  the 
fall  works  well  because  the  trout  sees 
the  fly  before  it  sees  the  leader.  In 
addition,  fish  a black  beetle 
downstream  during  a warm  afternoon 
this  month. 


ons,  kingfishers,  mink,  raccoons  and  us. 

Dry  flies  fished  downstream  can  be  an- 
other autumn  ace  in  the  hole.  If  a decent- 
looking  black  beetle  imitation  can  be 
floated  over  a trout  on  a warm  fall  after- 
noon with  no  leader  preceding  it,  your 
chances  of  hooking  that  fish  are  extremely 
good.  Simply  aim  your  cast  a bit  beyond 
your  chosen  target  area,  pull  back  the  rod 
tip  as  the  fly  is  drifting  down  and  you’ve 
created  some  slack  line  and  leader  between 
you  and  the  fish.  This  allows  the  fly  to 
float  freely  for  several  feet  and  the  fish 
doesn’t  see  the  leader  behind  it. 

To  extend  the  possibilities  of  such  a 
cast,  jiggle  the  fly  a time  or  two  before 
picking  up  to  cast  again.  A “worked”  or 
twitched  dry  fly  is  particularly  exciting  to 
many  fish  when  the  maples  show  some 
color  other  than  green. 

Leaders 

A little  cub  bear  is  not  a scary  creature. 
A 600-pound  bear  is  another  matter.  Yet, 
they  are  both  bears,  right?  Right.  And  so 
is  this  matter  of  leaders.  Keystone  State  fly 
fishing  great  George  Harvey  made  the  ob- 
servation long  ago  that  he  had  no  doubt 
that  trout  can  see  any  leader  regardless  of 
its  diameter.  I agree. 

It  helps  to  use  a reasonably  fine  tippet 
for  most  dry  fly  fishing,  but  it’s  far  more 
critical  to  cast  in  such  a way  that  the  trout 
has  less  of  a chance  to  see  it  at  all.  Deeper 
water  in  the  spring  and  early  summer 
hides  the  leader  and  its  tendency  to  drag 
the  fly,  but  autumn  fishing  is  better  done 
across  or  downstream. 

The  Haystack 

I’m  always  reluctant  to  make  any  pro- 
nouncements about  “new”  patterns, 
breakthroughs,  techniques  and  such.  As 
noted  earlier,  there  is  very  little  in  this  won- 
derful sport  of  fishing  that  hasn’t  been 
tried  long  before  you  and  I arrived  on 
the  scene.  But  there  is  another  one  part- 
icular fly  style  that  has  been  a minor 
autumn  miracle  for  me.  It’s  known  as  the 
Haystack. 

The  first  time  I saw  this  fly  listed  in  a 
tackle  catalog  it  was  labeled  “the  Francis 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


Betters  Haystack.”  This  New  York  state 
fly  tier  may  have  indeed  tied  the  first  com- 
mercial version,  but  my  current  favorite  is 
one  named  after  my  friend  Curt  Hill  of 
Philadelphia. 

It  consists  of  a pair  of  deer  hair  wings 
tied  upright  and  divided,  a tail  of  the  same 
material  and  a spun  fur  body  of  raw 
sheep’s  wool.  There  is  no  hackle.  It’s  sim- 
ply a brown,  scruffy,  hackleless  fish-getter 
for  fall.  For  the  past  four  seasons  I’ve  en- 
joyed exceptional  fishing  with  the  Curt 
Hill  Haystack  when  cast  across  and  down- 
stream. Allow  the  Haystack  to  free  float 
for  a few  feet  and  then  twitch  it  a time  or 
two.  Who  knows  what  the  trout  think  it 
is?  It  sure  works  for  me. 

If  you  don’t  tie  your  own,  any  custom 
tier  can  make  a half-dozen  in  45  minutes. 
Sizes  12  and  14  are  best  and  use  the  hair 
from  a deer’s  mask.  That’s  the  area  be- 
tween the  eyes. 

Streamers 

The  downstream  wet  flies,  the  black 
beetle  and  the  Haystack  will  be  most  use- 
ful during  fall.  So  will  a lot  of  other 
things,  including  live  bait  and  spinning 
lures  if  a fall  freshet  raises  the  water  or 
tinges  it  with  a hint  of  brown.  I just  prefer 
to  fish  with  flies  because  it’s  more  fun 


for  me. 

But  when  November  arrives,  the  contin- 
uing magic  of  autumn  takes  another  turn. 
The  crystalline  transparency  of  many 
streams  surrenders  to  a greenish-grey  shade 
that  comes  from  somewhere.  It’s  time 
once  more  to  break  out  the  box  of  stream- 
ers and  offer  the  trout  a larger  bite.  The 
fish  seem  to  know  that  cold  weather  is 
coming  and  minnows  will  soon  become 
more  difficult  to  find.  A wide  variety  of 
streamer  patterns  will  catch  trout  on  most 
streams,  but  the  long  fly  of  preference  for 
many  anglers  is  the  Muddler  Minnow.  It 
is,  arguably,  the  best  all-purpose  fly  ever 
created. 

Sculpin  minnow  imitation 

Unlike  a heap  of  other  streamer  pat- 
terns that  were  designed  mostly  to  please 
the  fly  tier’s  eye,  Dan  Gapen  fashioned  the 
first  Muddler  to  imitate  the  sculpin  min- 
now. And  it  does  that  admirably.  The 
scruffy  deer  hair  head  and  somber  browns 
of  turkey  and  (traditionally)  wolf  hair  in 

Trout  take  streamers  in  November 
because  they  seem  to  know  it  won’t 
be  long  before  minnows  become 
scarce.  A Muddler  Minnow  is 
arguably  the  best  all-purpose  streamer. 


the  wing  “look”  like  a sculpin  minnow 
when  the  fly  is  well-soaked. 

The  trick  in  fishing  a Muddler  in  the 
fall  is  to  fish  it  slowly  and  smack  it  on  the 
bottom.  If  your  fly  is  not  snagging  on 
rocks  or  hidden  limbs  on  every  third  cast, 
you’re  not  fishing  it  right.  Let  it  sink  and 
then  twitch-twitch-twitch.  Bring  it  back 
with  hand-stripping,  not  by  wiggling  the 
rod  tip.  Moving  the  rod  tip  creates  a sag  in 
the  line  and  makes  it  very  hard  to  hook  a 
quick  strike.  By  using  the  hand-strip 
method,  the  angler  maintains  con- 
stant control  and  many  fish  will  hook 
themselves. 

Autumn  angling  is  not  limited  to  trout 
by  any  means.  Bass,  walleye,  muskies, 
panfish  and  just  about  every  other  fish 
imaginable  go  on  a feeding  spree  some- 
time during  the  fall.  Lucking  into  one  of 
those  special  days  requires  that  we  spend 
more  time  on  the  water.  Like  most  of  us. 
I’d  rather  spend  more  time  fishing  than 
not  fishing. 

I do,  however,  bring  a halt  to  trout  chas- 
ing when  the  browns  and  brookies  begin 
their  mating  rituals.  In  most  parts  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  week  before  Thanksgiv- 
ing is  when  serious  spawning  begins.  Be- 
fore that  time,  there  will  be  some  false 
starts  and  some  territorial  disputes  in  the 
trout  world.  Males  stake  out  their  baili- 
wicks and  females  begin  nest-building. 

When  I see  the  polished  gravel  spawn- 
ing redds  or  actual  mating  rituals,  I quit 
trout  fishing  on  that  particular  stream.  In 
put-and-take  waters,  that  is,  where  little,  if 
any,  natural  reproduction  takes  place,  it 
probably  doesn’t  matter  much.  It’s  just 
my  personal  rule  that  I don’t  fish  for  trout 
during  their  “honeymoons.”  I think  the 
male  fish  are  vulnerable  and  handling  roe- 
fat  females  can  cause  extra  mortality.  Be- 
sides, I enjoy  watching  the  spawning. 

We  humans  are  more  attuned  to  the 
spring  season  being  our  rejuvenation  time, 
but  if  we’re  trout  fishermen,  autumn  can 
be  just  as  stimulating.  If  we’ve  seen  a pair 
of  trout  doing  their  thing  we  can  be  com- 
forted all  winter  by  knowing  that  those 
eggs  are  developing  into  yet  more  trout  for 
us  to  be  confounded  by  in  falls  to  come. 

The  reds  and  yellows  and  golds  of  fall 
are  worn  just  as  beautifully  by  the  brown 
and  brook  trout  of  Pennsylvania  as  they 
are  by  the  maples,  oaks  and  birches.  With 
these  natural  treasures,  it’s  a final  fling  of 
smashing  color  before  the  whites  and  greys 
of  winter  assume  control.  Tomorrow 
would  be  an  excellent  time  to  be  on  the 
water  and  gather  a few  more  autumn  rec- 
ollections. Don’t  you  agree?  [pa] 


10  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Jim  Bashline 


Finding  Fish 

Fish  locators  are  a hot-selling  item  today.  They  do 
everything  from  telling  depths  and  showing  structure 
to  pinpointing  fish.  Prices  range  accordingly, 
depending  on  how  much  you  want  to  know  and  the 
way  you  want  it  shown  on  your  locator. 

If  you  are  like  most  kids,  you  can’t  afford  one. 

Here’s  a little  “Fish  Commission-made”  locator  you 
might  want  to  memorize  or  store  in  your  tackle  box  for 
future  trips.  Sometimes  you  will  find  more  than  one 
kind  of  fish  hiding,  feeding  or  resting  in  these  areas. 
Largemouth  bass:  Around  sunken  timber,  logs 
and  stumps. 


Rainbow  trout:  Near  boulders  and  rocks  in 
coldwater  streams  and  lakes. 


Smallmouth  bass:  Below  rapids  or  riffles  where  the 
current  starts  to  slow. 


Catfish:  In  slow  pools  and  under  dark,  undercut 
banks. 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  11 


12  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Cicero  observed  the  memory  to  be  the  treasury,  the  guardian  of 
all  things;  and  so  it  was  for  the  fisherman  who  picked  up  the 
bright  artificial,  intending  only  to  check  the  sharpness  of  its 
pointed  hooks.  He  paused  as  his  fingertips  caressed  the  roughened 
gouges  where  the  teeth  of  a big  fish  had  marred  the  lure’s  smooth 
surface,  and  in  an  instant  he  was  transported  back  to  that  day,  the 
lake  of  his  vision  glowing  like  crackling  kindling  in  the  reflection 
of  the  setting  sun. 

Distinctly  he  could  again  hear  the  rush  of  water  against  the  boat 
and  smell  the  dampness;  vividly  he  could  see  the  graceful  curve  of 
the  great  fish  as  it  took  to  the  air,  and  again  he  felt  the  pulsing 
buck  of  the  rod  against  his  palm. 

Yet,  because  he  was  a fisherman,  the  memory  tripped  by  the 
scarred  lure  was  only  one  of  thousands  that  could  have  been 
renewed  as  easily  by  a photo,  by  one  of  the  trophies  hanging  on 
the  wall  across  from  his  chair,  or  even  by  the  scent  of  open  water. 
Like  the  cocoon  of  a dormant  caterpillar  his  angling  experiences 
glistened  with  the  dew  of  time,  waiting  only  to  be  called  forth. 
Perhaps  the  only  thing  he  did  more  than  fish  was  to  dream  about 
fishing. 

As  vividly  he  could  have  seen  those  times  of  last  spring  when 
the  bass  themselves  had  been  so  confused  by  passing  weather 
fronts  that  even  they  had  not  known  what  they  were  doing.  Many 
days  had  then  gone  by  without  an  answering  tug  on  his  line.  Yet, 
he  savored  even  those  moments  as  gratefully  as  the  ones  marked 
by  the  success  of  a bending  rod,  because,  though  the  fish  were 
important,  the  experience  for  him  was  not  so  much  the  catching  as 
the  essence  of  being  in  contact  with  the  roots  of  his  nature. 

The  subtle  changes  he  made,  modifying  the  presentation  to  the 
flow  of  the  passing  seasons,  became  as  much  a part  of  the  year’s 
memories  as  did  the  bounty  that  came  when  it  seemed  he  could 
do  no  wrong.  Yet  these  were  unconscious  memories,  too  precious 
ever  to  lose,  and  in  no  way  was  he  aware  of  filing  them  with  the 
even  more  subtle  hours  spent  turning  the  pages  of  fishing  maga- 
zines or  reading  everything  he  could  to  improve  his  success.  They 
all  had  been  more  than  devising  new  ways  to  catch  a trophy;  they 
were  a part  of  the  experience. 

The  easy  warmth  of  summer  and  the  stringer-filling  activity  of 
fall’s  feeding  frenzy  would  never  be  forgotten.  But  the  slowing  of 
activity  as  the  water  turned  cold  was  suppressed  into  near  nothing- 
ness. Hardly  ever,  until  its  time  came  again,  would  he  remember 
the  emptiness  that  had  emerged  as  he  put  away  the  rods,  winter- 
ized the  outboard,  and  performed  the  other  tasks  that  said  good- 
bye to  the  open-water  season.  But  even  then  a new  anticipation 
had  begun  as  he  turned  to  sharpening  the  auger,  and  at  last  put- 
g ting  repairs  to  the  ice  shed  that  had  sat  unattended  and  forgotten 
| since  the  previous  spring. 

The  cold  had  come,  but  not  intensely  enough,  and  the  surface 
j of  most  lakes  had  only  remained  too  hard  to  cast  through,  never 

i becoming  solid  enough  to  stand  on.  He  already  forgot  that  the 

: preceding  winter  had  proved  frustrating  to  his  plans  to  land  big 


fish.  No  golden-sided  walleye  had  been  hoisted  through  holes  in 
the  ice.  He  didn’t  mind  because  he  was  a fisherman  in  the  truest 
sense  and  the  smaller  ponds  had  for  a time  provided  the  opportu- 
nity to  hook  a bounty  of  colorful  bluegills  and  crappies  that  glis- 
tened against  the  frozen  surface  like  jewels.  Besides,  there  had 
been  much  else  to  do. 

Almost  as  eagerly  as  exploring  a new  lake,  he  had  trolled  the  long- 
channeled  isles  of  the  sportsman’s  show,  casting  the  cove  of  every 
booth.  Over  cups  of  steaming  coffee  he  had  for  hours  relived  the 
fish  of  the  past  with  his  friends  as  they  planned  to  catch  those  of 
the  future.  In  a strange  mixture  of  anxious  and  solitary  content- 
ment he  had  tinkered  through  the  winter  nights,  sharpening 
hooks,  repairing  rods,  cleaning  reels,  and  dreaming. 

Tiny  red  beads  and  bits  of  lead  and  silver  rolled  about  on  his 
kitchen  table,  awaiting  their  turn  to  be  formed  into  new  lures.  A 
hundred  times  he  thumbed  through  the  tattered  pages  of  the  old 
tackle  catalogue.  When  the  new  one  arrived,  he  devoured  it  as 
eagerly  as  a child  pores  over  a Christmas  wish  book.  He  hoped  the 
rod  he  wanted  would  not  be  too  costly.  He  looked  with  an  equally 
childlike  fantasy  for  a new  lure  that  would  answer  every  fishing 
problem. 


Perhaps  the  only  thing  he  did  more 
than  fish  was  to  dream  about  fishing. 


But  it  was  now  spring,  he  was  a fisherman,  and  his  reflections  on 
the  lure  now  were  not  so  much  of  the  past  as  they'  were  of  the 
future.  Through  his  year  both  the  apparent  and  unperceived  an- 
gling activities  had  provided  joy  and  frustration.  As  always,  they 
gave  back  much  more  than  they  took.  Rather  than  becoming  a 
simple  search  for  spectacular  happiness,  the  events  of  the  seasons, 
even  those  of  the  worst  times,  had  provided  contentment.  In  this 
sense,  there  were  no  frustrations  as  all  things,  both  great  and 
small,  combined  into  precious  moments.  Forgotten  were  the 
weedy  trials  and  remembered  were  only  the  soft  blossoms  of  joy. 

As  he  held  the  lure,  the  cold  rain  that  had  fallen  earlier  on  that 
day  long  ago,  soaking  his  hair  and  clothing,  was  now  recalled  as 
no  more  than  a damp  pleasantness  of  the  experience,  rather  than  a 
chilling  chafe.  Even  as  the  airborne  body  of  the  fish  that  twisted 
against  the  backdrop  of  his  memory  snapped  from  its  graceful 
arch,  propelling  the  lure  from  its  jaw,  he  smiled. 

With  such  a treasury  there  was  no  way  to  feel  low,  neither  then 
nor  now.  Carefully  he  slid  the  lure  back  into  its  place.  Never 
had  he  seen  such  a fish  and  now  it  was  gone;  but  as  always 
such  remembrances  were  seeds  of  the  past  that  bloomed  with 
the  future. 

He  was  a fisherman.  It  made  no  difference  if  he  plied  the  local 
water  in  a 12-foot  john  boat,  searching  for  catfish  and  bass;  trav- 
eled to  a distant  part  of  the  state  for  trophy  walleye;  or  sped 
through  the  bass  tournaments  of  20  counties  in  a high-powered  rig 
of  sparkling  metal  flake.  It  made  no  difference  if  he  dressed  in  a 
tailored  jumpsuit  with  matching  sneakers  and  cap,  complete  with 
embroidered  patches,  or  walked  the  banks  of  a muddy  creek  in  a 
T-shirt  and  jeans  patched  only  to  cover  the  rips  in  the  knees. 

What  made  a difference  was  that  he  was  a fisherman  and  this 

was  the  beginning  of  another  year.  He  closed  the  . 

tackle  box,  picked  up  his  rod,  and  headed  for  the  door. 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


“Hey, 

Mister  . . . 


by  Paula  Dabbs 


Fishing  season  is  winding  down  in  Lebanon  County.  It  was  the 
time  of  year  when  anglers  can  fulfill  their  wintertime  dreams  of 
getting  out  into  nature’s  wilderness  and  filling  their  creels  with 
the  elusive  trout  they’ve  waited  to  catch  for  so  long. 

My  county  has  two  of  the  most  richly  blessed  areas  of  fish 
for  miles  around.  It’s  graced  by  peacefulness,  clean,  clear  waters, 
and  a bounty  of  fish.  Located  in  State  Game  Lands  156,  both 
Rexmont  Dams  total  around  16  acres.  They  are  surrounded  by 
tall  pines  and  scenic  farmland  and  they  offer  hours  of  pleasure 
to  young  and  old  alike  for  hiking,  fishing,  and  hunting.  I have 
special  memories  of  this  spot.  I met  my  best  friend  there  while 
fishing,  and  I’ve  caught  more  than  my  share  of  fish,  three  of 
them  citation-size. 

I taught  my  sons  all  about  nature  at  the  Rexmont  woods — 
how  to  take  fish  safely  and  properly,  and  how  to  put  back  to 
nature  what  she’s  given  them. 

I’m  known  to  many  as  “the  lady  of  the  lake.”  Some  don’t 
even  know  my  name,  but  they  know  what  I do  there.  This 
waterway  has  a special  place  in  my  heart  of  so  many  good  times 
and  so  many  experiences  and  adventures.  It  was  no  surprise  to 
anyone  when  I adopted  the  dams  through  the  Fish 
Commission’s  Adopt-a-Stream  program.  I became  the  parent  of 
these  dams  that  I call  my  second  home. 

Being  a “parent,”  as  we  all  know,  is  no  easy  task,  especially 
when  one  of  your  responsibilities  is  cleaning  up  after  the  “kids.” 
Litter  . . . tons  of  it,  ruin  our  waterways  throughout  the  state 
every  year.  The  Rexmont  Dams  are  no  exception.  We’ve  already 
lost  our  pre-season  trout  stocking  because  of  litter  problems  and 
poaching. 

Every  year  for  the  past  seven  years  I’ve  made  my  Sunday  litter 
patrol  around  the  dams.  I remember  one  day  removing  six  bags 
of  trash  from  someone’s  “good  time.”  And  every  time  I clean 
up,  I find  something  new,  the  remnants  of  slob  fishermen  and 
sportsmen  (and  women).  Sometimes  I have  to  chuckle  to  myself 
at  the  stupidity  of  these  “expert  anglers.” 

I have  found  that  most  litterbugs  are  not  only  lazy,  but  they 
have  the  mentality  of  an  amoeba.  They  also  could  use  a crash 
course  on  fishing  techniques. 


Hey  mister,  what  kind  of  fish  do  you  expect  to  catch  using  18- 
pound  monofilament?  Flipper?  And  your  hooks!  Way  too  big,  I 
hate  to  tell  you.  You  can’t  possibly  be  catching  many  fish  on  the 
baits  you’re  using.  Did  the  tackle  store  have  a sale  or 
something?  Some  people  buy  anything  to  catch  fish.  Sorry  to 
tell  you,  but  you  wasted  your  money  (again).  No  wonder  you 
got  skunked  (again). 

Hey  mister,  do  you  know  what  happens  to  that  fishing  line 
you  threw  in  the  bushes?  Well  I do!  Did  you  ever  see  a blue  jay 
so  tangled  in  line  that  you’ve  signed  his  death  certificate?  Ever 
see  a squirrel  or  rabbit  so  badly  tangled  that  it  can’t  move  and 
starved  to  death?  Not  a pretty  sight,  mister. 

If  only  you  had  tucked  it  away  into  your  pocket  or  tackle 
box,  you  could  have  saved  that  animal’s  life,  and  saved  me  the 
aggravation  of  sitting  my  son  down  and  explaining  to  him  that 
the  mallard  duck  he  just  found  was  now  up  with  God  in  nature’s 
heaven. 

Hey  mister,  how  about  that  lunch  you  packed?  Ding-Dongs 
and  Doritos  do  not  make  a healthy  diet.  Next  time  try  some 
fresh  fruit  and  vegetables!  Much  better  for  you  and  me.  Just 
how  much  beer  can  one  person  consume,  mister?  You  must  have 
had  your  share  of  line  tangles  and  misplaced  casts  after  six  or 
seven  cans.  You  didn’t  stagger  and  fall  in  the  dam  when  you 
pitched  that  last  can  in  the  water,  did  you? 

Hey  mister,  how  the  heck  did  your  dog  lose  his  collar?  And 
how  did  you  lose  your  socks?  I found  your  wallet,  you’re 
welcome,  sorry  your  money  was  gone,  but  at  least  you  have  all 
your  credit  cards  back.  That’s  okay— I didn’t  want  a reward, 
anyway. 

The  Fish  Commission  has  a slogan:  “Take  a Kid  Fishing.”  I’m 
glad  you  took  yours.  Did  he  enjoy  playing  with  that  new  bubble 
pipe  you  bought  him?  I picked  up  the  wrapper  for  you,  mister. 
He’ll  probably  grow  up  to  be  just  like  his  daddy!  ...  An 
uncaring  wildlands  litterer.  Nice  footprints  to  follow  in.  Hey 
lady,  isn’t  that  baby  toilet-trained  yet?  He  sure  does  go  through 
the  Pampers,  doesn’t  he? 

By  the  way,  it’s  not  just  what  you  litter,  but  where  you  litter.  I 
can’t  count  the  number  of  thorns  and  raspberry  bush  scratches  I 
acquire  in  a day’s  patrol,  getting  your  junk  out  of  the  bushes  for 
you.  And  mister,  don’t  think  you’ve  fooled  me  by  putting  it 


I remember  one  day  removing  six  bags  of  Utter  from  someone’s  “good 
time.”  And  every  time  I clean  up,  I Und  something  new,  the  remnants 

of  slob  fishermen  and  sportsmen  (and  women). 


14 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


welCc 


State  Game  I^inds 

CAMPING  PROHIBITED 

fires  restricted 


HUNT  SAI 


under  rocks  and  logs.  I still  found  it.  It  was  also  really  nice  of 
you  to  leave  those  16  brand  new  garbage  bags  for  me  to  pick 
up.  I’ll  put  them  to  good  use  in  the  coming  months,  cleaning  up 
your  mess. 

Hey  mister,  you  know,  I’ve  got  this  great  dog,  a black  lab 
named  Thunder.  He  has  this  trick  I taught  him  that  you  should 
see.  It’s  called  “go  fetch  the  trash.”  When  you  throw  it  in  the 
water,  he  retrieves  it!  He  thinks  it’s  a great  trick.  I think  it’s  one 
he  could  do  without.  He’s  been  doing  it  since  he  was  a pup.  He 
gets  more  exercise  retrieving  your  trash  than  he  does  retrieving 
ducks! 


So  you  think  that  com  makes  a great  bait,  huh?  Think  again. 
Sure,  it  works,  but  fish  can’t  digest  it.  Can  you,  mister?  Once  1 
counted  5?  kernels  of  com  in  a trout’s  belly  ...  he  certainly 
didn’t  die  of  starvation.  Think  about  it.  And  yes— the  can  from 
the  com  made  a great  home  for  that  hog-nosed  snake  that 
crawled  into  it.  Nearly  scared  me  into  the  next  county,  though. 

Hey  mister,  do  you  keep  your  house  as  clean  as  you  keep  my 
“second  home”?  Please  don’t  ever  invite  me  over!  You  are 
always  welcome  to  visit  me,  but  please  mister,  in  the  future,  if 
you  carry  it  in,  carry  it  out.  And  by  the  way  mister,  you  forgot 
your  underwear!  [pa] 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


15 


French  Creek 

Trophies 

by  Dari  Black 

The  mercury  has  begun  a downward  plunge.  Cold  winds 
howl  through  naked  trees.  Snow  flurries  splatter  the  bleak 
landscape.  Winter  is  moving  into  western  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  chilled  waters  of  French  Creek,  unseen  by  human 
eyes,  walleye  are  on  the  move.  Female  walleye  instinctively 
respond  to  an  urge  to  move  upstream  while  feeding  raven- 
ously to  nurture  developing  eggs,  in  preparation  for  a spawn 
that  is  over  four  months  away. 

And  each  winter  a handful  of  faithful  anglers  begins  pil- 
grimages to  French  Creek.  They  know  the  opportunity  ex- 
ists to  hook  a 10-pound-plus  walleye,  a trophy  for  most 
people.  But  these  anglers  also  know  that  they  have  a chance 
for  a record-setting  walleye.  It  has  happened  more  often  in 
this  stream  than  in  any  other  water  in  the  state. 

French  Creek  may  be  the  best  trophy  walleye  water  in  the 
state.  But  if  you  want  to  land  a record  ’eye,  you  have  to  pay 
your  dues.  Catching  a trophy  ’eye  requires  dedication,  often 
enduring  hours  of  snow,  rain,  and  numbing  cold.  Cast  after 
cast,  day  after  day,  you  wait  for  the  big  fish  to  bite. 

Ted  Fitch,  Thomas  Jones,  and  Ed  Gray  know  that  the  big 
walleye  are  there.  Although  they  do  not  fish  together,  they 
have  high  regard  for  the  ability  of  one  another.  These  men 
are  jig  fishermen  and  walleye  hunters  of  the  most  skillful 
order. 

Besides  landing  numerous  big  walleye  of  at  least  10 
pounds,  each  member  of  this  trio  has  succeeded  in  a feat 
that  few  anglers  will  duplicate — catching  an  exceptional 
walleye,  one  of  over  14  pounds.  In  1986  and  1987,  Fitch  and 
Jones  respectively  landed  the  largest  recorded  walleye  in  the 
state  for  that  particular  year.  Gray  has  the  leading  fish  for 
1988  (caught  in  January),  and  probably  only  another 
French  Creek  walleye  taken  this  November  or  December 
could  possibly  beat  his  catch. 

Cambridge  Springs  native  Ted  Fitch  has  been  fishing 
French  Creek  since  the  1930s.  The  14-pound,  2-ounce  wall- 
eye he  caught  on  December  12,  1986,  was  a personal  record. 

“I  never  start  walleye  fishing  in  the  creek  until  November, 
after  all  the  leaves  are  down  and  washed  out  of  the  creek,” 
said  Fitch.  ‘‘The  water  temperature  must  be  cool  for  the  big 
fish  to  feed.  The  fall  and  winter  of  1986  were  particularly 
good.  I had  six  walleye  over  10  pounds  between  November 
27  and  ice-up  in  mid-January.” 

That  year  Fitch  had  chosen  a new  fishing  hole,  a different 
spot  than  ones  he  had  fished  in  past  seasons.  It  was  about  7 
or  8 feet  deep,  and  only  20  feet  long.  But  it  had  a nice  eddy 
current  because  it  was  at  the  mouth  of  a tributary  stream. 


Dari  Black 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


Fish  Commissioner  Marilyn  A.  Black,  of 
Cochran  ton,  works  French  Creek’s 
waters  for  a winter  walleye. 

On  November  30,  in  addition  to  several 
18-  to  24-inch  walleye,  Fitch  had  taken  a 
12-pound,  3-ounce  brute  from  this  very 
hole.  That  fish  would  be  the  third  largest 
walleye  taken  in  1986. 

It  wasn’t  a spot  that  he  thought  would 
hold  good  fish  in  the  summer,  so  Ted  fig- 
ured the  walleye  were  using  it  as  a tempo- 
rary staging  area  as  they  moved  upstream. 
If  that  were  the  case,  there  would  be  new 
arrivals  every  few  days,  so  he  continued  to 
return  to  this  spot  at  every  opportunity. 

“I  would  reach  the  spot  about  day- 
break, and  fish  until  10  or  11.  Some  morn- 
ings I would  have  action  right  away,  other 
times  I had  to  wait  for  an  hour  or  two. 
But  the  action  came  in  spurts  with  strikes 
on  successive  casts.  The  walleye  didn’t  bite 
after  11  a.m.” 

Fitch  uses  hand-tied  bucktail  jigs  in  the 
'/ 8-,  '/ 4-  and  Vs-ounce  sizes.  The  weight 
of  the  jig  depends  on  the  depth  of  the  wa- 
ter and  the  strength  of  the  current.  He 


does  best  with  natural  white  or  dyed  pale- 
yellow  bucktail. 

His  rod  is  a 7 '/2-foot  fiberglass  spin- 
ning rod  with  a closed-face  spinning  reel 
and  14-pound-test  line.  Fitch  uses  the 
heavy  line  because  he  hooks  quite  a few 
muskies  during  this  time  of  year. 

“For  winter  walleye  I work  a jig  very 
slowly,  keeping  it  just  off  the  bottom.  The 
slower  you  work  it  without  letting  it  actu- 
ally settle  on  the  bottom  where  it  will  get 
snagged  in  the  debris,  the  better  your 
chance  of  getting  walleye.  Use  your  wrist 
to  flex  the  rod  so  that  the  jig  takes  a 6-inch 
bob.  Not  a hop  or  skip,  but  a bob.  The 
hair  will  fluff  with  each  pull.  Do  not  let  it 
settle  to  the  bottom.  If  you  feel  the  bot- 
tom, just  raise  the  rod  and  move  the  jig  a 
little  faster.” 

On  the  morning  the  record  fish  hit,  Ted 
had  already  put  an  11 -pound,  12-ounce 
walleye  on  a stringer,  a fish  that  would  be 
the  fifth  largest  caught  in  1986. 

“That  14-pounder  was  just  another  big 
fish  when  I was  fighting  it  out  in  the  pool 
where  I could  not  see  it,”  said  Fitch.  “But 
when  I got  my  first  look  at  it  as  I worked 
it  into  shore,  I suddenly  realized  this  was 


an  exceptional  fish.  I certainly  felt  relieved 
when  it  was  in  the  net.” 

The  talk  about  Fitch’s  14-pounder  had 
not  subsided  when  Tom  Jones  of  Mead- 
ville  stirred  the  fire  with  a walleye  that 
would  become  the  largest  for  1988.  On 
January  14,  Jones  nailed  a 15-pound,  8- 
ounce  beauty.  According  to  senior  anglers, 
Jones’s  fish  was  the  largest  walleye  ever  re- 
corded from  French  Creek. 

“A  fishing  buddy  and  I launched  a ca- 
noe about  11  a.m.,”  Jones  told  me.  “The 
water  level  was  a little  high,  about  1 V2 
feet  over  summer  level,  but  fairly  clear. 
The  day  was  partly  cloudy  but  rather  mild 
for  January.  However,  the  water  was  very 
cold,  near  32  degrees,  because  two  days 
later  the  creek  froze  over  solid  and  ended 
the  fishing. 

“We  had  been  working  a pool  that  was 
about  8 feet  deep.  Although  it  wasn’t  a 
real  deep  hole,  it  has  been  a productive 
one  over  the  years.  There  is  a big  blown- 
down  tree  in  the  center  of  it.  A riffle  is  at 
the  head  of  the  hole,  and  the  hole  itself  is 
probably  150  yards  long.  There  is  a lot  of 
water  moving  through  it,  but  the  walleye 
lay  in  the  slack  water  on  the  edge  of  the 
heavy  current.” 

The  gargantuan  15  '/2-pound  ‘eye  came 
on  a 5-foot  ultralight  rod  with  6-pound 
line.  Jones  was  casting  a Vs-ounce  white 
bucktail  jig  at  the  time,  working  the  cur- 
rent breakline  with  a slow,  swimming 
retrieve. 

“The  big  fish  hit  about  2 p.m.  That 
walleye  never  took  out  an  inch  of  line,  but 
simply  hung  close  to  the  bottom.  There 
were  some  tense  moments.  It  took  a while 
for  me  to  work  the  fish  to  the  canoe,  and 
then  to  maneuver  it  into  the  net,  because  I 
was  in  the  stem  of  the  canoe  pointed 
downstream. 

“Fishing  the  creek  is  tough.  The 
weather  is  usually  miserable  and  the  water 
flow  seldom  the  way  I want  it.  You  must 
have  to  wait  for  the  right  water  conditions, 
which  in  my  experience  is  near  normal 
flow  and  fairly  clear,”  concluded  Jones. 

Ed  Gray,  also  of  Meadville,  may  have 
more  fishing  hours  accumulated  on 
French  Creek  than  any  other  person.  And 
Gray,  a student  of  walleye  fishing  since  the 
1930s,  agrees  with  the  others  when 
it  comes  to  the  time  of  year  for 
hawg  walleye. 

“Cold  water  is  best,”  he  said.  “Over 
the  years,  the  trophy  fish  have  all  been 
taken  in  the  late  fall  or  winter.”  Gray,  just 
like  Fitch,  begins  each  walleye  season  after 
autumn’s  fallen  leaves  have  been  flushed 
from  the  stream.  He  fishes  a number  of 


18  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Dari  Black 


graphics  by  Rose  Boegli 


different  holes,  but  is  particularly  fond  of 
ones  where  tributary  streams  enter  the 
main  creek.  The  water  does  not  have  to  be 
deep,  5 or  6 feet  is  often  enough,  but  7 to 
10  feet  is  better.  But  there  must  be  a re- 
verse eddy  current  or  slack-water  edge 
along  the  main  flow  to  provide  a resting 
area  for  the  walleye. 

His  favorite  walleye  bait  is  a plain  'A- 
ounce  white  bucktail.  Gray  casts  the  jig 
with  a 5-foot  ultralight  outfit — a fiberglass 
rod  and  small  reel  with  8-pound  test.  He 
fishes  the  jig  as  close  to  the  bottom  as  pos- 
sible, constantly  moving  it  along  in  small 
hops  just  off  the  bottom.  The  circum- 
stances leading  to  the  1988  trophy  fish 
episode  actually  began  on  December 
31,  1987. 

“It  was  4:30  p.m.  on  New  Year’s  Eve. 
The  sky  was  clear  and  it  was  very  cold, 
only  18  degrees  above.  There  was  slush  ice 
floating  down  the  creek  because  the  slack 
water  on  the  banks  was  freezing  and 
breaking  loose.  Ice  was  forming  on  the 
line  and  in  the  guides.  The  area  of  the  hole 
remaining  ice-free  was  only  6 to  7 feet 
deep  and  it  had  a slight  current  moving 
through  it.” 

Gray  had  only  been  fishing  a short  time 
when  something  smacked  his  jig  on  the 
drop  following  a cast.  Gray  immediately 
knew  it  was  a big  fish.  It  fought  by  thrash- 
ing and  rolling  on  the  top  of  the  water, 
rather  than  making  a run.  Once  landed, 
Gray  hesitated  to  keep  it  or  turn  it  loose. 
He  decided  to  keep  it.  On  the  scale  at 
home  it  weighed  over  11  pounds. 

On  New  Year’s  Day,  Gray  returned  with 
the  same  friend  to  the  same  spot  at  the 
same  time  of  day.  The  creek  conditions 
and  weather  were  identical  to  the  day  be- 
fore, except  additional  edge  ice  had 
formed  overnight,  thus  forcing  Ed  to  fish 
at  the  exact  same  spot  as  the  day  before. 
Deja  vu. 

“I  had  made  a half-dozen  casts  to  the 
open  water  when  I felt  the  crack  on  the 
drop  just  like  the  night  before.  I set  the 
hook,  and  typical  of  a big  walleye,  she 
came  up,  rolled  on  the  top  and  thrashed 
about.  While  I played  the  fish,  she  re- 
mained near  the  surface  the  entire  time. 
Once  we  had  her  netted,  I knew  immedi- 
ately it  was  larger  than  the  one  from  the 
night  before.” 

Weighed  on  certified  scales  on  January 
2,  the  New  Year’s  Day  fish  came  in  at  14 
pounds,  3 ounces.  Within  hours  word 
spread  through  the  anglers’  grapevine  that 
a big  fish  bite  was  on.  However,  the  creek 
froze  solidly  on  January  3,  ending  another 
French  Creek  trophy  season.  | pa] 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


19 


Molding, 
Making 
and 

Twinn 

• 7 ■■ ' j 

the  Buchtail  and  Jig 


Melt  lead  on  a stove  carefully.  Molten  lead  is  hot  (about  700  degrees)  and  the  fumes  are 
toxic.  Take  appropriate  safety  measures.  Support  the  ladle  to  prevent  it  from  rolling. 


by  C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 

Leadhead  bucktails  and  jigs  are  among  the 
most  effective  lures  for  all  species  of  fish. 
They  can  be  fished  shallow  or  deep;  cast, 
flipped  or  vertically  jigged;  used  plain  or 
with  bait  or  a trailer.  They  are  also  among 
the  easiest  to  make  at  home.  Making  jigs 
saves  money,  it’s  fun,  it’s  a good  way  to 
spend  spare  time  during  the  off-season, 
and  it  allows  you  to  customize  the  lure  to 
your  exact  needs  and  wants. 

Molding  jigheads  provides  the  maxi- 
mum savings  although  bare  jigheads  for 
tying  and  painting  into  finished  lures  can 
also  be  bought.  Molding  jigs  is  not  diffi- 
cult or  expensive,  even  though  you  must 
have  a few  special  tools. 

To  begin,  you  need  lead,  molds,  a melt- 
ing pot,  lead  ladle,  jig  hooks,  wire  cutters, 
paints,  tying  thread  and  any  tail  materials 
including  fur,  feathers,  soft-plastic  skirts, 
soft-plastic  grub  or  minnow  tails,  artificial 
fur  or  nylon  dressing. 

Molds  for  any  type  and  size  of  jig  that 
you  can  imagine  are  available  from  Do-It, 
Hilts,  and  Palmer  Molds,  with  their  prod- 
ucts available  through  mail  order  houses 
and  many  tackle  shops. 

An  alternative  to  the  melting  pot  and 
ladle  is  to  use  a ladle-style  electric  pot  or  a 
bottom-feed  electric  pot,  like  the  one 
you’d  use  for  bullet  molding. 

Hot  beginnings 

Begin  by  realizing  that  jig  molding  and 
working  with  molten  lead  requires  certain 
safety  precautions.  Clear  a suitable  work 
space.  If  you’re  working  in  the  kitchen,  be 
sure  to  have  adequate  ventilation  because 
lead  fumes  are  dangerous  and  toxic.  For 
this  reason,  some  anglers  use  a camp  stove 
and  melt  lead  on  a patio,  deck  or 
screened-in  porch. 

Cover  kitchen  counters  or  your  work  ta- 
ble with  thick  cardboard  or  plywood, 
making  sure  that  there  is  enough  insula- 
tion to  prevent  heat  damage.  Keep  pets 
and  children  away  from  the  area  during 
molding.  Make  sure  that  there  is  no  mois- 
ture or  condensation  on  the  lead.  This  can 
cause  lead  to  splatter  as  it  heats. 

Lead  for  jigs  can  include  anything  from 
pure  lead  to  plumber’s  lead.  This  is  a mix- 
ture of  lead  with  a high  tin  content.  It’s 
easier  to  pour,  although  it’s  soft  and  more 
easily  deformed  if  the  lure  hits  a rock.  Var- 
ious alloys  such  as  wheel  weights,  Lino- 
type metal  and  others  include  antimony 
and  tin,  which  makes  for  a harder  finished 
lure  that  deforms  less  when  fishing  over 


20  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 


C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 


rocks.  Different  lead  alloys  also  work  dif- 
ferently. Lead  with  a high  tin  content 
results  in  underweight  lures,  while  hard 
lead  (wheel  weights  and  Linotype  metal)  is 
more  difficult  to  pour  smoothly  into  small 
cavity  molds. 

Place  the  melting  pot  solidly  on  the 
stove  and  wait  until  the  lead  becomes 
completely  molten.  When  you’re  ready  to 
pour,  lead  has  a silvery,  purplish  sheen  to 
it  and  will  not  at  all  be  thick  or  lumpy.  At 
the  same  time,  lightly  heat  the  mold  over 
low  heat  on  another  burner.  The  purpose 
is  only  to  warm  the  mold  so  that  each  cav- 
ity is  filled  completely.  Do  not  overheat 
the  mold.  This  may  warp  the  mold  faces 
and  make  it  unusable. 

A cold  mold  chills  the  incoming  lead 
and  makes  for  incomplete  jig  heads.  An 
alternative  is  to  pour  the  mold  several 
times  without  hooks  to  warm  the  mold 
with  the  molten  lead.  The  lead  bodies  can 
go  back  into  the  melting  pot. 

For  easier  pouring  and  a smoother  fin- 
ish, use  a candle  flame  to  smoke  (blacken) 
the  inside  of  each  mold  cavity  completely. 

Pouring  the  lead 

Once  ready,  place  the  hooks  in  the 
mold,  close  the  mold,  and  set  it  upright. 
For  safety,  hold  the  mold  handles  and  la- 
dle with  heavy  gloves  and  carefully  but 
rapidly  pour  lead  into  each  sprue  hole  (the 
funnel-like  holes  that  carry  lead  into  the 
mold  cavity). 

After  all  the  cavities  are  filled,  wait  a 
few  seconds  and  open  the  mold  to  remove 
the  completed  jigheads.  They  will  still  be 
very  hot  at  this  time,  so  use  a small  screw- 
driver to  pry  them  out  or  a pair  of  wire 
cutters  to  pull  out  the  completed  jigs 
by  the  sprue  lead.  Continue  this  proce- 
dure, making  enough  jigheads  for  a sea- 
son or  two. 

For  the  fastest  results,  work  with  a 
buddy  and  several  molds  that  can  be  filled 
with  hooks  and  poured  on  a regular  rota- 
tion system.  It  is  best  if  one  of  you 
pours  the  molds  and  removes  the  hot 
heads  while  the  other  adds  hooks  to 
empty  molds. 

When  the  heads  are  cool  enough  to 
handle,  hold  them  by  the  sprue  (which  is 
added  to  the  molten  lead)  and  cut  the 
head  free.  Do  not  touch  the  lead  head. 
Touching  them  now  adds  skin  oils  to  the 
lead,  which  makes  it  more  difficult  for 
paint  to  adhere.  If  necessary,  hold  the 
head  with  cotton  gloves  or  by  the  hook 
and  use  a file  to  smooth  out  the  spot 
where  the  head  is  cut  free. 


Racks  (above)  to  hang  painted  lures  should  prevent  the  jig  heads  from  sliding  together. 
This  rack  is  made  with  bead  chain. 


Cold  or  warped  molds  (above)  produce  “flash,  ” in  which  the  cavity  doesn’t  fill 
completely.  Unpainted  jigs  (below)  can  be  used  with  skirts  or  soft  plastics. 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  21 


When  the  heads  are  molded,  they  can 
be  used  as  is  for  pork  rind,  for  soft-plastic 
worms  or  grubs  (often  slider  types  are 
used  this  way)  or  with  minnow  vibrating- 
tail  soft  plastics. 

Painting,  tying 

To  make  painted  jigs  with  bucktails,  it  is 
best  to  tie  and  paint  them  immediately 
(within  several  days)  or  at  least  to  give  the 
lead  a base  coat  of  paint  to  prevent  natural 
oxidation  that  prevents  good  paint  adher- 
ence later.  Use  a primer  designed  for  the 
paint  that  you  will  use  later,  or  a white 
base  coat  of  paint. 

To  make  painted,  tied  jigs,  you  need  a 
fly  tying  vice  or  small  work  bench  vice  to 
hold  the  jig  hooks.  Clamp  the  hook  se- 
curely and  begin  tying.  Use  fly  tying 
or  rod  building  thread  and  begin  wrap- 
ping the  thread  around  the  collar  or 
hook  shank  several  times,  crossing  over 
the  thread  to  secure  it  in  place.  Main- 
tain thread  tension  at  all  times  to  avoid 
looseness. 

Prepare  the  tail  materials  for  tying.  Clip 
the  fur  close  to  the  skin  and  use  a fine 
comb  to  remove  any  underfur.  Typical  furs 
include  bucktail,  calf  tail,  deer  body  fur 
(flares  out  for  a bulkier  look)  and  artificial 
furs.  Saddle  hackle  is  also  used,  but 
should  be  stripped  of  fibers  forward  of  the 
tying  point. 


Leadhead  jigs  can  be  used  with  soft- 
plastic  lures  or  skirts,  with  fur,  or  with 
artificial  fur  tails  that  are  tied  in  place. 
Use  a fine-toothed  comb  to  remove  the 
underfur  on  real  and  artificial  fur. 

Take  the  tail  materials  and  tie  them  in 
place  by  holding  them  over  the  collar  area 
and  wrapping  them  several  times  with  the 
tying  thread.  While  doing  this,  make  sure 
that  the  tail  material  spreads  evenly 
around  the  collar  for  a uniform  look. 
When  tying  large  bucktails  it  may  be  nec- 
essary to  tie  in  several  bunches  to  make  the 
tail  full  enough. 

When  the  tail  material  is  secured,  use 
scissors  to  clip  any  excess  material  forward 
of  the  collar  area.  Then  continue  wrap- 
ping to  cover  the  fur  or  feathers  com- 
pletely with  an  even  layer  of  thread.  Once 
complete,  tie  off  the  thread  by  making  a 
series  of  half-hitches  (three  or  four),  pull- 
ing each  up  securely  so  that  it  bites  into 
the  thread  wrap  to  hide  and  hold  it.  Clip 
the  excess  thread  with  fine-point  scissors. 

There  are  several  ways  to  paint  the  tied 
heads.  One  quick  way  is  to  use  the  new 
lure  paints  such  as  those  from  The  Color 
Box,  Catchin’  Colors,  Testors  and  Master 
7.  These  allow  immediate  drying  for  im- 
mediate use  of  the  lure.  Regular  high- 
quality  paints  and  enamels  are  also  good. 
The  best  method  is  to  dip  or  brush  the 


head  and  wrapped  collar  area.  Spraying 
works,  but  wastes  much  paint  and  also  re- 
quires masking  the  tail  area.  Dipping  is  the 
easiest  method  because  each  lure  can  be 
dipped  into  the  paint,  covering  the  head 
and  the  thread  wrap. 

Covering  the  thread  wrap  gives  it  a pro- 
tective coating  to  prevent  it  from  unravel- 
ing. Place  the  lead  head  slowly  into  the 
paint  to  prevent  air  bubbles  and  remove  it 
the  same  way.  Blot  it  carefully  to  prevent 
dripping  and  paint  sags,  and  then  hang  it 
up  to  dry.  Sagging  paint  can  be  a problem 
for  home  painting  of  lead  heads,  so  it  is 
often  best  to  thin  the  paint  and  use  several 
coats,  allowing  each  coat  to  dry  first. 

For  easy  hanging  of  these  lures,  use  a 
simple  U-shaped  wood  rack  with  cross 
pieces  of  bead  chain,  pipe  strapping  or 
small  link  chain.  These  make  it  impossible 
for  the  racked  heads  to  slide  together  or 
touch  while  drying. 

Most  dark  paint  colors  cover  in  one 
coat.  Light  colors  need  a base  coat  of 
white  to  prevent  the  lead  from  dulling  or 
discoloring  the  brighter,  light-colored 
paint.  Fluorescent  paints  also  need  a base 
coat  of  white  along  with  a clear  coat  to 
cover  the  dull  appearance  of  these  bright 
paints. 

Two-tone  jigs 

Once  cured,  two-tone  (white  body/red 
head,  for  example)  jigs  can  be  made  by 
making  a second  dipping  into  the  paint. 
Brushing  also  allows  several  different  col- 
ors, although  the  results  may  not  look 
as  completely  professional  as  those  of 
commercial  makers.  For  a “feathered”  ap- 
pearance of  the  two  coats,  the  second  coat 
can  be  sprayed,  masking  the  tail  with  a 
cardboard  template. 

Other  additions  are  also  easy  to  add  at 
this  time.  Eyes  are  easy  to  make  using  dif- 
ferent size  nail  heads  dipped  in  paint  for 
the  eyes  and  pupils.  A yellow,  white  or  red 
eye  with  a black  or  contrasting  pupil  is 
popular.  Similarly,  polka  dots  can  be 
added  with  nail  heads  while  a fme  brush  is 
good  for  adding  stripes,  gill  covers,  her- 
ring bone  patterns,  and  other  designs. 

This  kind  of  jig  molding  and  tying  is 
best  covered  in  an  assembly  line  operation, 
molding  all  you  need  for  a season  or  two 
first,  then  tying  up  jigs  with  the  tails  and 
tail  colors  desired,  and  finally  painting  the 
colors  needed. 

Doing  so  makes  the  job  easy,  allows  for 
consistent,  professional  results,  and  gives 
you  enough  lures  for  just  about  any  fish- 
ing, for  any  species  of  fish,  that  you  can 
imagine.  [pa] 


22  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


C.  Boyd  Pfeiffer 


The  sky  was  heavy  with  billow- 
ing gray  thunder  clouds  and  a 
northeast  wind  pushed  three- 
to  four-foot  seas  as  we  cleared  the  Erie 
channel.  We  were  heading  out  for  the  last 
fishing  trip  of  the  year,  one  that  we  hoped 
would  be  memorable.  Little  did  we  know 
just  how  memorable  it  would  be. 

For  a week  Bill  and  I had  been  trying  to 
find  the  time  for  this  outing.  We  also  real- 
ized that  venturing  far  offshore  in  the  un- 


predictable fall  weather  could  be  risky.  We 
kept  a close  eye  on  the  sky  and  tuned  in 
the  NOAA  marine  weather  forecast  re- 
peatedly. 

As  we  crossed  Thompson’s  Bay  and 
headed  our  sturdy  21 -foot  cuddy  cruiser 
toward  open  water,  I thought  about  how 
well  the  boat  had  run  that  summer.  It  car- 
ried us  out  safely  many  times  on  deep- 
water trips,  but  I worried  about  the 
appendix  to  Murphy’s  Law.  The  law  states 


L,  if  anything  can  go  wrong  it  will  go 
wrong.  The  appendix  adds  that  it  will  go 
wrong  at  the  worst  possible  time — if  we 
had  a problem  this  time  of  year  there 
would  be  very  few  boats  to  help. 

Once  we  cleared  the  point,  the  greenish- 
blue  swells  seemed  to  calm  a bit  and  a 
light  spot  in  the  dark  sky  opened,  giving 
way  to  a brilliant  rainbow.  Bill  remarked 
that  rainbows  usually  meant  good  luck, 
and  added,  “I’ll  settle  for  a pot  of  yellow 
pike  at  the  end  of  it.” 

After  running  for  about  a half-hour  we 
reached  the  area  we  wanted  to  fish,  where 
the  water  was  about  65  feet  deep.  To  our 
pleasant  surprise  we  also  found  that  a 
small  cruiser  was  fishing  the  area.  We  got 
on  the  VHF  radio  to  say  hello  and  ask 
about  the  fishing. 

“This  is  Big  Daddy  calling  the  blue- 


24  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


and-white  cruiser  off  our  bow  to  tne 
northeast,”  said  Bill.  The  sweet  sound  of 
a woman’s  voice  with  a slight  southern 
accent  came  in  reply. 

“This  is  the  Sugar  Lee,”  she  said.  “We 
see  you  Big  Daddy— welcome  aboard.  We 
are  doing  some  trolling  for  yellows  and 
have  a few  in  the  box.  Good  luck  to  you 
fellows  and  give  us  a jingle  if  you  have 
any  luck.” 

We  quickly  got  to  the  business  of  rig- 
ging our  rods  and  lowering  the  downrig- 
gers,  between  taking  turns  at  the  wheel. 
The  boat  hobbyhorsed  gently  over  the 
large  swells,  but  generally  handed  the  seas 
well.  We  fished  for  several  hours  and  had 
fair  success. 

Each  time  we  landed  a nice  pike,  we 
called  Sugar  Lee  to  share  fishing  informa- 
tion. The  more  we  talked  to  the  pleasant 
voice  and  her  hubby,  the  skipper,  the  more 
we  liked  the  congenial  couple.  As  the  eve- 
ning progressed,  the  seas  and  wind  de- 
creased continually.  After  fishing  for 
about  2 '/ 2 hours,  our  motor  started  to 
run  a little  rough.  Before  I could  put  it  in 
neutral  and  rev  it  up,  a puff  of  black 
smoke  went  up,  like  a spirit  leaving  a 
body,  and  the  motor  died. 

flashed  a questioning  look 
at  me  as  my  heart  thumped. 
He  knew  what  I was  thinking.  This  was  a 
bad  time  and  place  for  engine  trouble.  I 
quickly  reached  for  the  key  to  restart  the 
motor.  It  reluctantly  fired,  but  stalled 
again  with  another  puff  of  exhaust. 

Could  this  be  the  same  boat  that  had 
run  so  well  for  countless  hours  of  trolling 
all  summer?  It  could  be  indeed,  but  it 
was  held  fast  in  the  snares  of  Murphy’s 
Appendix. 

I pulled  back  on  the  engine  cover  to 
look  for  the  problem.  I found  that  only 
hand-choking  would  keep  the  thing  run- 
ning. The  problem  must  be  the  fuel  flow,  I 


problem.  I cleaned  it  and  started  to  re- 
tighten the  copper  fitting.  By  then  the 
light  in  the  cockpit  was  so  dim,  it  made 
the  job  difficult. 

When  everything  seemed  tight  I asked 
Bill  to  hit  the  starter.  The  motor  instantly 
fired  up  and  kept  running,  but  as  it  did  a 
trickle  of  gas  came  from  the  gas  line  and 
dripped  into  the  bilge.  Just  as  my  spirits 
hit  rock  bottom,  and  my  ideas  for  repair- 
ing the  motor  had  run  out,  that  sweet  little 
voice  came  over  the  radio. 

“This  is  the  Sugar  Lee.  What  are  you 
doing  there,  Big  Daddy?  Can  we  give  you 
some  help?” 

grabbed  the  mike  as  if  it  were 
a long-lost  friend  and  ex- 
plained our  situation. 

“Don’t  worry  Big  Daddy,”  said  the 
Sugar  Lee,  “We’ll  be  right  over  to  give  you 
a hand.” 

As  the  Sugar  Lee  pulled  up,  a tall  man 
wearing  a baseball  cap  leaned  out  over  the 
rail.  I explained  what  we  had  done  and  the 
problem  with  the  leaking  gas  connection. 
The  skipper  of  the  Sugar  Lee  asked  me  to 
check  a few  other  things,  which  seemed  to 
smooth  the  motor  a bit. 

He  said  to  try  running  for  a while  and 
promised  to  stay  alongside.  I gently  eased 
the  motor  into  gear  as  Bill  wrapped  a rag 
around  the  leaking  gas  line  and  held  it 
tightly  for  the  long  run  home. 

For  a while  everything  seemed  to  be 
working.  We  couldn’t  go  very  fast,  but  at 
least  we  were  moving  and  the  pleasant 
sight  of  the  Sugar  Lee  bobbing  alongside 
was  reassuring.  After  running  the  motor 
for  about  15  minutes  or  so,  Bill  asked  me 
to  slow  the  motor.  He  said  the  rag  had 
become  soaked  with  gas  and  that  he 


dry  one.  Even  with  the  motor  at 
steady  stream  of  gas  flowed  from 
I related  our  concern  to  the  Sugar 
asked  for  advice.  The  skipper  rec- 
ommended that  we  pour  a few  buckets  of 
water  into  the  bilge  to  dilute  the  fuel.  My 
pulse  started  to  climb.  We  were  still  miles 
from  shore,  the  gas  leak  was  worsening, 
and  I was  supposed  to  bail  water  into 
our  boat! 


This 


wasn’t  exactly  what  I 
learned  in  the  safe  boating 
course  I took  a few  years  back.  While  I 
put  several  small  buckets  of  water  into  the 
bilge,  Bill  wrapped  a dry  rag  on  the  leaky 
fitting.  We  started  the  motor  again  and 
things  went  well  for  the  next  15  minutes. 

Just  when  I was  beginning  to  relax  a 
little,  the  engine  started  to  act  up  again.  At 
first  it  missed  and  sputtered.  Then  it 
coughed.  Before  I could  get  it  out  of  gear, 
it  popped  and  backfired,  spitting  a large 
yellow  flame  from  the  carburetor. 

“That’s  it!”  I said  to  Bill.  “We’re  shut- 
ting this  thing  down!  Get  on  the  radio  to 
the  Sugar  Lee” 

Bill  didn’t  say  a word,  but  the  relieved 
look  on  his  face  told  me  he  agreed.  Bill 
explained  our  decision  to  the  Sugar  Lee. 
The  friendly  voice  on  the  other  end  came 
back  with  no  hesitation. 

“Good  idea,  son,  we’ll  come  over  and 
throw  you  a line.” 

During  our  long,  slow  tow  home,  I 
pondered  what  I could  do  to  show  my 
deep  gratitude  to  the  good  Samaritans 
who  came  to  our  rescue.  When  we  finally 
pulled  in  several  hours  later,  I offered  to 
fill  the  Sugar  Lee’s  tank,  or  whatever  else 
they  would  accept  as  a token  of  apprecia- 
tion. The  answer  that  came  really  didn’t 
surprise  me. 

“Oh  shucks,”  said  the  kindly  skipper, 
“you  would  have  done  as  much  for  us. 
Ain’t  that  what  boating  is  all  about?’  ’f**l 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  25 


by  J.  B.  Kasper 

The  month  of  November  signals  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the 
fishing  season  for  many  anglers.  Behind  us  is  the  short-sleeve 
fishing  of  the  warmwater  season  and  staring  us  straight  in  the 
face  are  the  chilly  breezes  of  late  autumn  as  Old  Man  Winter 
begins  to  awaken  after  a long  summer’s  sleep. 

Just  because  the  leaves  have  fallen  from  the  trees  and  there  is 
a chill  in  the  air,  it  doesn’t  mean  there  still  isn’t  some  good 
fishing  out  there.  In  fact,  the  cooler  waters  of  late  fall  are  much 
to  the  liking  of  many  fish.  One  species  in  particular  that  seems 
to  come  alive  during  this  time  of  the  year  is  the  crappie.  You 
may  know  him  better  as  the  calico  bass,  speck,  or  by  a half- 
dozen  other  names,  but  no  matter  what  you  call  him  he  can 
offer  a real  bonanza  during  late  autumn. 

Crappies  are  a school  fish,  and  you  can  usually  bet  the  family 
fortune  that  if  you  find  one,  he  has  plenty  of  friends  to  keep  the 
action  lively.  They  inhabit  many  lakes,  ponds  and  slow-moving 
sections  of  streams  and  rivers  throughout  the  state. 

Like  the  bass  and  other  members  of  the  sunfish  family,  of 
which  they  are  a part,  crappies  adhere  closely  to  structure. 

During  this  time  of  the  year,  brush  piles,  dock  and  bridge 
pilings,  fallen  trees  and  dropoffs  are  their  favorite  haunts. 

Their  depth  range  during  this  time  of  the  season  can  range 
from  5 feet  to  30  feet,  and  in  some  isolated  cases  even  deeper. 
Crappies  are  also  often  found  suspended  in  the  thermocline 
layers  of  water  that  are  common  in  the  large  reservoirs  and  lakes 
throughout  the  state.  Places  like  Wallenpaupack,  Nockamixon 
and  Raystown  all  have  this  type  of  structure  during  the  late 
season.  Fifty-  to  sixty-degree  water  temperature  zones  are  the 
crappies’  preferred  thermostat  setting,  but  even  when  the  water 
gets  down  into  the  forties  they  can  still  be  active.  After  all,  if 
you  think  about  it,  good  numbers  of  these  fish  are  taken 
through  the  ice  during  the  hard-water  season,  so  you  can  see 
how  hardy  crappies  are. 

Nothing  is  more  tasty  than  a mess  of  crappie  fillets  dipped  in 


Thellth 

a rich  beer  batter  and  then  deep-fried.  Add  some  french  fries 
and  cole  slaw  and  you  can  see  why  many  veteran  anglers  stock 
up  their  freezers  during  this  time  of  year.  Crappies  taken  from 
cool  waters  during  autumn  are  some  of  the  tastiest  fish. 

Think  small 

The  nice  thing  about  crappie  fishing  is  that  it  doesn’t  take 
much  in  the  way  of  tackle  to  put  them  on  the  stringer.  They 
readily  hit  a variety  of  baits  and  lures  and  can  be  fished  for  in 
several  different  ways.  The  one  key  word  in  crappie  fishing  is 
small.  Old  flat-sides  prefers  small  baits  and  lures,  and  good-sized 
fish  can  be  taken  on  lures  and  baits  as  small  as  one  inch. 

In  the  rod  and  reel  department,  an  ultralight  spinning  outfit 
packed  with  4-pound  test  is  your  best  bet.  Anglers  who  are 
really  into  crappie  fishing  have  taken  to  using  a 4 '/2-foot 
ultralight  graphite  rod  with  a small  reel  filled  with  two-pound 
test.  This  type  of  rig  gives  them  the  super-sensitive  feel  that  is 
preferred  for  this  type  of  fishing,  because  many  hits  that  you  get 
will  be  very  light,  especially  when  the  water  gets  colder.  It  also 
helps  them  get  the  most  sport  from  this  type  of  fishing. 

Lures 

When  it  comes  to  lures,  rubber  bait  and  jig  combinations 
probably  out-produce  all  others  combined.  Small  twister  tails, 
grubs  and  crayfish  imitations  dressed  on  a '/i6-  or  '/32-ounce  jig 
can  give  you  some  great  action,  especially  during  the  early  part 
of  November  when  the  water  is  still  on  the  warmer  side. 

Crappies  are  a naturally  curious  fish  and  will  often  race  right 
up  to  a bait  when  they  first  spot  it  and  then  sit  and  watch  it  for 
a few  seconds  before  they  strike.  Crappies  don’t  nibble  a bait. 

They  suck  it  in  much  the  same  as  do  bass.  This  lets  you  set  the 
hook  as  soon  as  you  detect  the  hit,  and  if  you  choose  not  to 
keep  them  it  makes  for  an  easy  release. 

Anyone  who  has  fished  for  crappies  for  some  time  will  tell 


In  the  fall,  live  bait  for 
crappies  is  hard  to  beat. 

Choose  minnows  that  are 
one  to  two  inches  long, 
and  hook  them  through 
the  lips. 


26  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Hour  Bonanza 


you  that  these  fish  prefer  bright  colors  the  majority  of  the  time. 
Yellow,  white,  chartreuse  and  red  are  among  the  best  jig  color 
producers. 

Minnows 

During  autumn,  very  little,  if  anything,  can  out-produce  live 
bait  in  the  form  of  small  minnows.  The  natural  action  of  a 
minnow  and  its  feeble  attempt  to  elude  a crappie  once  it  has 
been  spotted  is  an  irresistible  combination.  The  panic  that  is 
evoked  as  a minnow  perceives  his  impending  doom  can  create 
quite  a stir  among  a school  of  crappies. 

Fatheads,  killies  and  other  small  members  of  the  minnow 
family  in  the  1-  to  2-inch  size  are  the  ticket  to  a livewell  filled 
with  fish.  During  the  fall,  bait  is  easy  to  keep  because  the  cooler 
water  temperature  slows  the  fish’s  metabolism  and  they  won’t 
use  up  as  much  oxygen  as  they  would  if  the  water  were  warmer. 
Cold  water  also  holds  oxygen  better. 

No  matter  which  method  you  choose  when  using  live  bait, 
always  hook  the  minnow  through  the  lips.  Crappies  usually  take 
the  bait  head-first  and  this  can  put  the  hook  where  it  will  do  the 
most  good.  Another  thing  to  remember  when  fishing  for 
crappies  during  this  time  of  the  year  is  that  the  colder  the  water 
gets,  the  slower  the  action  you  want  on  your  bait  or  lure. 

The  jig  and  live  bait  combination  is  one  of  the  easiest  ways  of 
fishing  for  old  slab-sides.  A simple  jig  can  be  made  from  a size 
8 or  10  jig  hook  and  a small  wingless  splitshot.  Place  the 
splitshot  over  the  bend  of  the  hook  and  squeeze  it  on  with  a 
pair  of  pliers. 

The  areas  that  you  will  be  fishing  will  be  ones  that  have  a lot 
of  hangups.  This  is  the  reason  why  they  hold  good  numbers  of 
crappies,  so  be  prepared  to  lose  some  rigs.  The  splitshot  jig  can 
help  you  cut  down  on  your  losses  because  they  are  a lot  less 
expensive  than  regular  jigs.  Don’t  worry  about  a fancy  paint 
job.  Crappies  aren’t  fussy  at  this  time  of  the  year.  They’re  more 
interested  in  the  minnow. 

Fishing  the  proper  depth  during  this  time  can  be  a crucial 
factor.  If  you  have  located  some  fish  near  submerged  structure, 
you  can  lower  your  bait  right  among  them.  Although  a magic 
marker  is  not  exactly  a fishing  item,  it  can  be  a valuable  aid  in 
getting  your  bait  back  down  to  the  proper  depth  time  after  time. 
Once  you  have  hooked  a fish  you  can  use  the  marker  to  color 
your  line  at  a certain  spot.  All  you  have  to  do  after  you  have 
rebaited  your  jig  is  lower  it  back  down  to  the  same  depth,  using 
the  mark  on  your  line  as  a reference. 

Bobber  method 

Another  popular  way  of  fishing  for  crappies  is  with  a bobber. 
Small  pencil-shaped  ones  are  the  best  type  to  use  for  this  fishing 
because  they  offer  the  least  resistance  once  the  fish  has  taken  the 
bait.  A bead  or  bobber  stop  can  be  placed  on  the  line,  and  you 
can  regulate  the  depth  of  the  bait  from  the  bobber  with  it.  A 
small  splitshot  can  be  placed  about  a foot  above  the  hook, 
which  is  tied  directly  to  the  line.  This  serves  two  purposes.  First, 
it  weighs  the  bait  down  and  gets  it  to  the  proper  depths.  Second, 
it  keeps  the  bobber  from  sliding  up  to  the  bait  when  you 
retrieve  it. 


If  you  are  a bank  fisherman,  you  will  find  that  the  bobber 
method  can  be  the  most  suitable  for  shoreline  fishing.  It  lets  you 
cast  your  baits  where  you  need  to  and  can  also  help  you  keep  an 
eye  on  them  while  you  are  fishing. 

Some  shoreline  fishermen  also  substitute  a jig  for  a plain 
hook  when  using  a bobber.  This  allows  the  bobber  to  slide  right 
up  to  the  jig  when  retrieving,  and  when  you  cast  the  rig,  the 
bobber  and  jig  stay  together  until  they  hit  the  water,  making  for 
a better  casting  system.  Once  they  hit  the  water,  the  jig  carries 
the  bait  to  the  proper  depth. 

Crappies  are  school  fish  and  move  around  near  a particular 
structure.  One  crafty  old-timer  with  whom  I have  fished  many 
times  over  the  years  had  a way  of  finding  out  in  which  direction 
the  fish  moved  when  they  seemed  to  disappear  from  a spot.  He 
would  catch  a crappie  and  then  attach  a small,  light-wire  hook 
to  its  top  fin,  just  deep  enough  to  keep  it  in  place.  He  would 
add  a length  of  line  to  it,  attach  a good-sized  balloon  and 
release  the  fish.  The  fish  would  follow  his  natural  instincts  and 
return  to  the  school  as  it  moved  away  from  the  structure  and 
started  roving  in  search  of  another  food  supply.  As  the  fish  did 
so,  the  balloon  would  show  the  fisherman  which  way  they  were 
headed  and  he  could  follow  the  school  of  crappies.  After  he  was 
done  fishing  for  the  day  he  would  retrieve  the  balloon  and 
remove  it  from  the  fish.  Pretty  sneaky  if  you  ask  me,  but  the 
old  balloon  trick  sure  kept  him  on  the  fish! 

Wind  is  not  always  the  angler’s  enemy,  and  in  this  case  it  can 
be  put  to  work  for  you.  During  the  fall,  schools  of  crappies  are 
often  regulated  by  the  movements  of  baitfish. 

If  you  have  had  a few  warm  days  with  a stiff  wind  blowing, 
you  can  bet  that  the  best  fishing  will  be  on  the  side  of  the  lake 
up  against  which  the  wind  has  been  blowing.  Structures  such  as 
brush  piles,  fallen  trees  and  other  debris  seem  to  come  alive  with 
crappies  when  a situation  such  as  this  occurs.  If  you  have 
located  some  fish  or  know  of  a good  crappie  holding  structure, 
you  can  anchor  your  boat  so  that  the  wind  will  blow  the  boat 
on  top  of  a fish-holding  area.  You  can  then  use  a method  that  is 
better  known  as  dead  sticking.  Just  lay  one  or  two  rods  in  your 
boat  so  that  their  tips  lay  over  the  water,  allowing  your  lines  and 
attached  baits  to  hang  at  a predetermined  depth.  This  keeps  the 
bait  in  the  strike  zone,  and  the  rocking  action  of  the  boat 
produced  by  the  wind  gives  the  bait  a natural  jigging  motion. 
Many  fishermen  often  use  one  rod  in  this  manner  while  they  use 
the  other  to  cast  and  retrieve. 

This  is  a good  one-two  punch  when  things  get  slow.  You  will 
also  find  that  this  method  works  well  when  the  water  gets  colder 
and  a slower  action  is  more  desirable. 

Fishing  for  crappies  can  be  an  interesting  and  fun  sport 
during  autumn.  It  allows  the  angler  to  try  many  productive 
methods  and  also  puts  some  good-tasting  fish  in  the  livewell.  It 
can  be  as  easy  or  as  sophisticated  as  you  make  it.  It  is  relatively 
inexpensive  when  compared  to  other  methods  of  fishing,  and 
can  also  help  you  sharpen  your  skills  for  the  larger  fish.  Bass 
and  other  gamefish  are  often  found  mixed  in  with  crappies,  so 
you  never  know  what  might  give  you  a thrill  when  you  are 

fishing  for  crappies.  This  fall  get  in  on  the  llth-hour  crappie 

bonanza — it’s  a great  way  to  end  the  year.  lTAJ 

November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  27 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Schuylkill  River  Greenway 
Association  Wins  Award 

The  Schuylkill  River  Greenway  Associa- 
tion (SRGA)  has  been  named  a winner  in 
the  second  annual  Take  Pride  in  America 
National  Awards  Program.  Take  Pride  in 
America,  a public  awareness  campaign  to 
promote  the  wise  use  of  the  nation’s  natu- 
ral and  cultural  resources,  is  endorsed  by 


nine  federal  agencies,  44  states,  two  U.S. 
territories  and  numerous  private-sector  or- 
ganizations. On  July  26,  the  SRGA  was 
honored  by  President  Reagan  at  a national 
awards  ceremony  in  Washington,  D.C. 

The  SRGA  and  93  other  winners  were 
selected  from  over  540  nominations  in  12 
categories  from  45  states  and  the  District 
of  Columbia  by  a panel  of  judges  co- 
chaired by  Interior  Secretary  Don  Hodel, 
Agriculture  Secretary  Richard  E.  Lyng, 


Education  Secretary  William  J.  Bennett 
and  other  nationally  known  dignitaries. 

The  SRGA,  headquartered  at  960  Old 
Mill  Road,  Wyomissing,  PA,  is  a non- 
profit citizen’s  organization  whose  goal  is 
to  promote  the  creation  of  a greenway,  or 
linear  park,  along  the  banks  of  Pennsylva- 
nia’s first  scenic  river,  the  Schuylkill.  The 
association  was  chosen  as  a national  win- 
ner for  its  work  in  the  Borough  of 
Phoenixville,  Chester  County. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


o 


o 


o 


Over  the  years  nothing  has  proved  as  useful 
for  a multitude  of  cures  as  petroleum  jelly.  It 
lubricates  reels,  prevents  rust,  reduces  friction 
and  can  even  be  rubbed  on  your  cheeks  and 
backs  of  the  hands  for  protection  in  cold 
weather. 

Lake  maps  kept  in  the  boat  stay  safe  and 
tear  free  if  folded  and  rolled,  then  stored  in  a 
capped  tube  like  the  one  in  which  some 
brands  of  potato  chips  are  sold.  Protect  maps 
from  moisture  with  silicon  spray  or  a covering 
of  clear  contact  paper. 

Toothpaste  rubbed  on  spinnerbait  blades 
does  a good  job  of  cleaning  and  shining.  Use 
an  old  toothbrush  and  rinse  the  blades  with 
warm  water. 

Long,  winter  nights  can  be  made  more 
interesting  by  renting  fishing  videos  rather 
than  digesting  the  typical  TV  fare.  Some  of 
the  best  instructional  videos  on  the  market 
cover  bass,  trout  and  walleye  angling,  and 
they  can  be  rewound  and  watched  again  and 
again  to  review  important  points. 

If  your  outboard  prop  is  heavily  nicked 
from  hard  use,  the  motor  cannot  operate  at 
peak  efficiency.  Many  boat  dealers  grind  the 
edges  to  restore  it  and  the  winter  months 
provide  an  excellent  time  to  have  it  done. 

Rope  tie-downs  on  boats,  both  cartoppers 
and  trailered  craft,  often  rub  against  the  metal 
and  fiberglass.  Thread  sections  of  rubber  or 
plastic  hose  onto  the  rope  and  position  them 
at  places  where  friction  occurs. 


Bass  move  slower  in  cold  weather  and  often 
“short-strike”  fast-moving  lures  like 
spinnerbaits.  Attach  a trailer  hook  to  the  lure 
to  increase  your  chances  of  hooking 
these  fish. 

If  you’re  trolling  and  nothing’s  hitting,  try 
varying  your  speed.  Slow  to  a near  stop  on 
occasion,  allowing  the  lures  to  sink  deep  or 
rise  to  the  surface,  and  then  return  to  normal 
speed.  Sometimes  the  varied  action  gets 
results. 

Monofilament  line  winds  onto  a reel  more 
smoothly  and  under  less  pressure  when  the 
pump-and-wind  method  of  fighting  a fish  is 
used.  Kids  and  novice  anglers,  especially, 
often  foul  the  spooled  line  by  simply 
“winding”  in  their  catches. 

Few  anglers  need  the  250  yards  of  line  that 
their  reels  are  capable  of  holding.  You  can 
double  the  use  of  new  monofilament  by 
removing  100  yards  or  so  from  the  reel,  then 
tying  on  the  new  line  and  refilling  the  spool. 
The  backing  seldom,  if  ever,  gets  used. 

Walleye  are  freqently  called  “walleyed 
pike” — particularly  in  Canada.  Walleye  are 
actually  in  the  same  family  as  perch,  not  pike. 

illustration  by  Rose  Boegh 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation 
of  our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diversi- 
fied fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E.,  Executive 
Director 

Lawrence  W.  Hoffman,  Executive 
Assistant 

Dennis  T.  Guise,  Chief  Counsel/ 
Planning  & Environmental  Regulation 
John  Arway,  Division  of 
Environmental  Services 
Joseph  A.  Greene,  Legislative  Liaison 
Lois  J.  Telep,  Executive  Secretary 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-6574522 

Allison  J.  Mayhew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shryl  Hood,  Division  of  Warm  water/ 
Coolwater  Fish  Production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  P.E.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Services 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  P.E.,  Division  of 
Property  Services 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-6574540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  & Education 
Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDUCATION  & 
INFORMATION 
717-6574518 

Cheryl  K.  Riley,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B.  Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Wolf,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  R.  Walke,  Graphic  Design 


28  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Commissioner  Kern 
Receives  Gold  Medal  Award 


Calvin  J.  Kern 


Fish  Commissioner  Calvin  J.  Kern  re- 
ceived the  Pennsylvania  State  Fish  & 
Game  Protection  Association’s  Gold 
Medal  Award  last  April.  The  Pennsylvania 
State  Fish  & Game  Protective  Association 
(PSF&GPA),  the  oldest  club  of  its  kind  in 
the  United  States,  honored  Kern  with  its 
highest  award  “for  his  years  of  dedicated 
service  to  the  sportsmen  of  this  great 
Commonwealth.”  Kern  was  further  cited 
for  his  lifetime  leadership  in  championing 
the  best  interests  of  all  sportsmen. 

Commissioner  Kern  was  appointed  ini- 
tially to  the  Fish  Commission  by  Governor 
Shafer  in  1968,  reappointed  by  Governor 
Shapp  in  1976  and  again  by  Governor 
Thornburgh  in  1984.  This  year  marks 
Commissioner  Kern’s  20th  year  of  contin- 
uous Fish  Commission  service. 


RV  Publications 

The  Recreational  Vehicle  Industry  Asso- 
ciation (RVIA)  has  available  more  than  25 
publications  on  subjects  like  hints  for  buy- 
ers, the  RV  lifestyle,  maintenance  and 
highway/camping  aids.  For  a free  copy  of 
the  RVIA  publications  catalog,  contact  the 
RVIA  at  P.O.  Box  2999,  Department  PA, 
Reston,  VA  22090.  Include  a business- 
sized stamped,  self-addressed  envelope 
with  requests. 


Effects  of  the  Drought 

Nearly  a month  of  nothing  but  torrid 
temperatures  and  drying  sun  and  then  fi- 
nally the  rains  came.  Rains  that  provided 
the  life-giving  liquid  we  call  water — rains 
that  relieved  the  parched  earth. 

The  emergency  status  of  the  drought  is 
over  for  now,  at  least  as  far  as  Pennsylva- 
nia is  concerned.  Still,  the  aftershocks  to 
our  Commonwealth’s  waterways  and  fish 
hatcheries  can  be  felt  and  the  effects  of  the 
drought  will  not  be  forgotten  soon. 

Pennsylvania  was  lucky  this  time.  The 
drought  didn’t  have  as  great  an  effect  on 
the  area  as  droughts  have  in  the  past,  and 
our  state  seems  to  have  been  the  least  af- 
fected compared  to  the  surrounding  states. 

Pennsylvania  noticed  all  the  general  ef- 
fects of  the  drought— warmer,  shallower 
waters  resulting  in  more  plant  growth,  less 
oxygen  content  and  consequently  more 
fish  stress.  But  the  bulk  of  the  spawning  in 
the  bass  and  carp  families  already  oc- 
curred before  the  drought  hit,  and  al- 
though higher  fish  stress  levels  were 
reported,  the  number  of  actual  fish  kills 
was  not  as  high. 

Dave  Daniels,  area  fisheries  manager 
for  the  northeast  part  of  the  state,  ob- 
served, “In  the  past  we  notice  the  number 
of  fish  decreasing  greatly,  but  this  was  not 
noticed  this  year.”  This  was  fortunate 
compared  to  New  Jersey,  which  had  wide- 
spread fish  kills,  and  Virginia  and  West 
Virginia,  where  low-water  stream  levels 
and  drying  streams  had  a devastating  ef- 
fect on  trout. 

Mike  Kaufmann,  area  fisheries  manager 
for  southeast  Pennsylvania,  reported  that 
streams  having  original  low  Hows  experi- 
enced a lot  of  fish  stress  and  algae  growth 
because  of  oxygen  deprivation,  warmer 
water  temperatures  and  stagnant  waters. 

But  there  were  pluses  to  be  found  in  the 
drought  situation.  Kaufmann  noted  that 
areas  with  poor  sewage  treatment  plants 
like  the  southeast,  which  have  caused  a 
higher  percentage  of  pollution  in  streams 
in  the  past,  have  actually  improved  some 
because  of  less  plant  overflow  and  also  less 
street  run-off  into  the  waters. 

Dennis  Ricker  and  Shyrl  Hood,  who 
head  the  Fish  Commission’s  two  fish 
propagation  divisions,  agree  that  the  worst 
of  the  drought  and  its  effects  are  over. 
Their  main  concern  now  is  what  will  hap- 
pen this  fall.  September  and  October  his- 


torically are  the  driest  months  of  the  year, 
and  if  the  state  does  not  receive  adequate 
amounts  of  relatively  steady  rainfall 
between  summer  and  fall,  we  may  be  in 
trouble. 

Although  fishing  may  have  been  some- 
what hindered  this  summer  because  of  low 
water  levels  and  high  water  temperatures, 
anglers  should  see  no  immediate  or  threat- 
ening effects  to  upcoming  fishing  oppor- 
tunities. 

“Even  if  water  levels  do  go  down  in  the 
fall,  we  do  not  expect  any  reductions  in 
the  number  of  fish  populations  reared  at 
the  hatcheries,”  said  Ricker. 

“We  are  fine  now,”  said  Hood.  “The 
fish  are  stressed  and  some  of  the  situa- 
tions, like  Fairview,  which  produced  steel- 
head  and  coho,  are  having  problems  with 
disease.  But  we  expect  to  produce  the 
same  numbers  of  fish,  although  they  may 
be  a little  smaller.” 

The  drought  has  brought  an  increase  in 
the  price  of  fish  food  used  at  the  hatch- 
eries. The  soybean  crops,  which  provide 
the  fish  with  a high-protein  diet,  have  suf- 
fered, causing  fish  food  costs  to  rise  al- 
most 15  percent  over  last  year’s  cost. 

As  a result  of  the  drought,  more  money 
was  also  spent  on  chemicals  used  to  care 
for  the  fish  and  energy  used  to  recirculate 
and  re-aerate  the  waters  that  run  through 
the  hatcheries. 

“The  anglers  may  have  some  cause  to 
worry  because  more  money  spent  in  such 
areas  as  chemicals  and  energy  means  cut- 
backs in  the  amount  of  money  spent  else- 
where,” said  Ricker.  “Areas  such  as 
raceway  improvement  and  equipment  up- 
dating could  suffer  setbacks,  but  this  still 
would  not  affect  the  number  of  fish  pro- 
duced. 

“I  believe  a good  deal  of  the  credit 
should  go  to  fish  culturists  themselves,” 
said  Ricker.  “They  have  never  allowed 
Mother  Nature  to  hurt  us  (the  hatcheries) 
and  their  experience  and  ingenuity  is 
amazing.  They  know  the  fish  and  they 
know  what  to  do  to  help  them.  They  got 
us  through  drought  situations  successfully 
in  the  past,  and  I feel  they  will  continue  to 
do  so  in  the  future.” 

We  hope  that  torrid  temperatures  and  a 
drying  sun  won’t  soon  deliver  another 
drought  to  our  Commonwealth,  but  the 
odds  are  against  us.  Although  Mother 
Nature  cannot  be  controlled,  Pennsylva- 
nia’s fish  culturists  have  learned  to  deal 
with  the  excessive  heat  and  dryness. — 
Sherri  A kens 


November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


PECO  signs  historic 
agreement 

August  26,  1988,  was  a memorable  day 
for  the  many  Pennsylvanians  who  have 
worked  for  nearly  four  decades  to  restore 
migratory  fish  to  the  Susquehanna  River 
Basin.  The  operators  of  Conowingo  Dam 
joined  several  state  and  federal  natural  re- 
source agencies  and  conservation  organi- 
zations in  filling  a historic  settlement 
agreement  with  the  Federal  Energy  Regu- 
latory Commission.  Under  the  agreement, 
Philadelphia  Electric  Power  Company 
(PECO)  agrees  to  provide  minimum  flows 
at  Conowingo  Dam,  comply  with  Mary- 
land water  quality  standards  and  construct 
permanent  fish  passage  facilities  at  the 
dam. 

Commission  Executive  Director  Edward 
R.  Miller  observed,  “Conowingo  Dam  is 
the  first  hydropower  dam  on  the  lower 
Susquehanna  River,  and  as  such  it  ob- 
structs passage  of  migratory  fish,  includ- 
ing American  shad,  into  their  historic 
habitat  in  Pennsylvania  waters.  This  agree- 
ment means  that  permanent  fish  passage 
facilities  will  be  built  at  Conowingo  and 
the  restoration  of  migratory  fish  to  the 
Pennsylvania  waters  of  the  Susquehanna 
River  Basin  can  now  go  forward.” 

The  initial  construction  of  fish  passage 
facilities  includes  a fish  elevator  (lift)  to  be 
located  at  the  east  end  of  the  Conowingo 
powerhouse.  The  lift  will  handle  750,000 
American  shad  and  5 million  river  herring. 
The  estimated  construction  cost  for  the  lift 
is  $12.5  million. 

PECO  also  agreed  to  consider  construc- 
tion of  a second  lift  when  the  first  lift 
reaches  this  capacity.  The  second  lift 
would  double  the  capacity  to  1.5  million 
shad  and  10  million  river  herring.  The  fi- 
nal phase  of  fish  passage  construction  at 
Conowingo  will  include  a third  fish  pas- 
sage device  on  the  west  shore  of  the  river, 
giving  the  facilities  a total  capacity  of  3 
million  American  shad  and  20  million 
river  herring. 

The  settlement  agreement  was  signed  by 
PECO  and  its  co-licensee,  the  Susque- 
hanna Power  Company,  and  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Fish  Commission,  Maryland 
Department  of  Natural  Resources,  the 
Susquehanna  River  Basin  Commission, 
Pennsylvania  Department  of  Environmen- 
tal Resources,  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Ser- 
vice, Upper  Chesapeake  Watershed 
Association  and  the  Pennsylvania  Federa- 
tion of  Sportsmen’s  Clubs.  The  Federal 
30  November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Energy  Regulatory  Commission  must  re- 
view and  approve  the  settlement  agree- 
ment, and  the  parties  anticipate  that  such 
approval  will  be  granted  in  the  near  future. 

“This  agreement  is  a major  step  in  re- 
turning American  shad  and  other  migra- 
tory fish  to  the  Susquehanna  River,” 
Miller  said.  “With  the  continued  coopera- 
tion of  PECO  and  the  operators  of 
Holt  wood,  Safe  Harbor  and  York  Haven 
dams,  the  dream  of  thousands  of  anglers 
and  boaters  of  restoring  migratory  fish 
runs  to  the  Pennsylvania  waters  of  the 
Susquehanna  River  Basin  will  soon  be  a 
reality.” 

Send  me  the  memo 

We’ve  all  seen  it — discarded  tangles  of 
monofilament  line,  wrapped  around  the 
greenery  along  our  waterways  and  tossed 
into  our  waters.  We  see  it,  but  sometimes 
our  wildlife  doesn't,  causing  devastating 
results.  Just  how  much  monofilament  line 
litters  the  banks  of  Pennsylvania  streams? 
I’d  like  to  know  and  you  can  help. 

Beginning  January  1,  1989,  I will  collect 
monofilament  line  that  has  been  tossed 
carelessly  around  the  state.  All  line  will  be 
measured  for  length  and  pound  test.  It  will 
be  interesting  to  find  out  how  many  miles 
of  line  pollutes  our  land  and  waterways. 
On  January  1,  1990,  I will  reveal  just  how 
much  littered  mono  line  I have  collected. 
Please  announce  this  project  to  your  sport 
and  outdoor  clubs  and  have  everyone  pitch 
in  from  across  the  state. 

I urge  everyone  to  participate  in  this 
project.  If  you’ve  seen  an  entangled  duck, 
goose  or  rabbit,  you  know  my  concern.  A 
thoughtless  moment  can  last  generations. 

Send  all  monofilament  line  collected 
to:  Paula  Dubbs,  Education  & Informa- 
tion Volunteer  Corps,  P.O.  Box  173,  An- 
nville,  PA  17003. 

Atlantic  Salmon 

Anglers  fishing  12,000-acre  Allegheny 
Reservoir  in  Warren  and  McKean  counties 
are  in  for  a treat,  courtesy  of  the  United 
States  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  (USFWS) 
and  the  Fish  Commission.  Last  summer, 
Atlantic  salmon,  and  some  big  ones  at 
that,  were  recently  stocked  in  the  reservoir 
near  Kinzua.  Because  of  water  supply 
problems  at  the  USFWS  National  Fishery 
Research  and  Development  Center  at 
Wellsboro,  Tioga  County,  Atlantic  salmon 
were  offered  to  the  Commission.  The 


deep,  well-oxygenated  cold  water  of  the 
Allegheny  Reservoir,  plus  an  established 
forage  base  of  rainbow  smelt,  favored  the 
selection  of  this  waterway  for  the  unex- 
pected offer. 

The  cooperative  effort  involved  trucks 
from  the  Fish  Commission’s  Tionesta  Fish 
Culture  Station  transporting  the  salmon 
from  the  federal  facility  in  Tioga  County 
to  the  Allegheny  Reservoir.  Some  5,000 
salmon  were  in  the  2-  to  4-inch  size  range, 
500  were  6 to  8 inches  in  length,  660  fit  the 
10-  to  14-inch  size  and  84  were  in  excess  of 
24  inches.  Anglers  reportedly  caught  some 
of  these  salmon  already. 

Atlantic  salmon  are  not  a new  species  to 
the  Allegheny  Reservoir.  Other  stockings 
have  occurred  during  the  mid-1980s  to 
provide  additional  diversity  to  this  large 
fishery.  According  to  USFWS  fisheries  bi- 
ologist John  Andersen,  the  Atlantic 
salmon  are  doing  well.  They  are  an  active 
fish,  having  been  caught  all  over  the  lake 
and  even  through  the  ice. 

He  pointed  out  that  some  anglers  are 
prone  to  mistake  the  Atlantics  for  trout. 
With  a 15-inch  minimum  size  limit  on  At- 
lantic salmon,  anglers  should  be  careful  in 
their  identification.  A key  characteristic  of 
the  salmon  is  the  pointed,  slightly  forked 
or  notched  tail.  Trout  have  a more 
rounded  tail.  The  salmon’s  adipose  fin  is 
usually  a solid  color  and  the  upper  jaw 
does  not  extend  past  the  eye.  Trout  often 
have  a spotted  adipose  fin  and  the  upper 
jaw  extends  behind  the  eye.  The  scales  of 
the  salmon  are  often  larger  and  the  dark 
dots  look  much  like  “X’s.” 

Lake  Erie 
Navigation  Charts 

NOAA/NOS  nautical  charts  are  the 
most  vital  tools  you  have  to  navigate  Lake 
Erie  inshore  waters  safely.  National  Ocean 
Service  chart  14835  (Erie  Harbor)  and 
14824  (Sixteenmile  Creek  to  Conneaut)  are 
particularly  useful.  They  are  also  helpful 
fishing  tools  when  you  outline  in  magic 
marker  the  best  fishing  spots,  highlight 
contour  lines  and  write  Loran  C coordi- 
nates to  note  the  places  at  which  you  catch 
fish  (Chart  14824  includes  Loran  C lines). 

For  a complete  list  of  all  150  Great 
Lakes  navigation  charts,  contact:  Distri- 
bution Branch  (N/CG33),  National 
Ocean  Service,  Riverdale,  MD  20737.  The 
phone  number  is  301436-6990.  Ask  for 
Catalog  4,  “Great  Lakes  and  Adjacent 
Waterways.” 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Judy  Earley  caught  these  nice  crappies 
in  Gouldsboro  State  Park  last  May.  The 
fish  were  her  largest  calico  bass  to  date. 


The  father-son  angling  duo  of  Spencer 
(with  the  fish)  and  his  dad,  Scott  Morgan, 
show  their  stuff  at  Beltzville  Lake.  Spen- 
cer’s first  fish,  pictured  here,  was  a bluegill 
that  he  caught  with  a worm  suspended 
from  a bobber.  Nice  catch,  Spence! 

November  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


Christina  Graff,  age  11,  caught  this  13- 
inch  brook  trout  on  a Royal  Coachman 
streamer.  The  action  took  place  in  the  fly- 
fishing-only stretch  of  Big  Mill  Creek,  in 
Elk  County. 


Seven-year-old  Jamie  Bender  landed 
this  nice  smallmouth  bass  while  trolling  a 
jig  with  a blue  twister  tail.  Why  blue?  It’s 
her  favorite  color,  of  course!  The  12  Cl- 
inch fish  was  put  on  the  stringer  for  the 
picture  and  then  released. 


Tom  Zettle,  age  13  from  Puaxsutawney, 
caught  this  3-pound,  7-ounce  brook  trout 
on  4-pound-test  line  with  a spinner.  The 
action  took  place  at  Ridgway  Reservoir,  in 
Elk  County. 


Robert  Lecce,  of  Lawrence,  NY,  used  a 
3-inch  shiner  to  boat  this  6 '/2-pound,  23- 
inch  largemouth  bass.  The  action  took  place 
at  a lake  in  the  Poconos  last  October. 


Catoht 

released 


•»  >V,/ 


L^y 

p-  ,'jSj 

K&gsES 

December  /988/S1.50 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State 's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


3 

J -J. 

i . 

\ 

Straight 

Talk 

Future  Needs  of  the 
Agency  Are  Clear 

Eighteen  months  have  passed  since  I be- 
came executive  director.  Time  has  passed 
quickly  as  restaffing,  budgeting,  public 
and  legislative  relations,  and  routine  ad- 
ministrative demands  have  filled  many  of 
my  days.  House  Resolution  291,  which 
implemented  a study  of  the  feasibility  of 
merging  the  Fish  and  Game  Commissions, 
has  also  demanded  a great  deal  of  valu- 
able staff  time  and  has  prevented  me  and 
other  staff  from  pursuing  more  beneficial 
activities.  In  addition,  much  time  has  been 
spent  developing  and  implementing  legisla- 
tive initiatives. 

The  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission, 
like  the  Game  Commission,  is  totally  sup- 
ported by  program-generated  revenues  de- 
rived from  fishing  license  sales,  boat 
registration  fees,  earmarked  federal  funds 
and  other  permit  and  royalty  fees.  As  a 
result,  the  agency  must  be  run  as  a private 
business — expenditures  cannot  exceed 
revenues — and  strict  economic  controls 
must  be  constantly  exercised.  This  unique 
situation  demands  that  the  Commission 
continuously  assess  public  needs  and  plan 


Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E. 

Executive  Director 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 


program  directions  and  expenditures  very 
carefully. 

Analysis  of  present  Commission  pro- 
grams shows  they  have  been  reduced 
nearly  to  the  quick,  and  many  of  our  ac- 
tivities are  understaffed  and  in  some  cases, 
operating  with  inadequate  equipment  and 
insufficient  operating  and  fixed  asset 
funds.  We  have  submitted  a supplemental 
budget  request  to  the  Governor’s  Office  of 
the  Budget  to  help  us  meet  recent  operat- 
ing and  personnel  cost  increases  and  other 
current  program  needs  that  our  approved 
budget  does  not  fully  fund.  We  have 
learned  that  the  public  depends  heavily  on 
our  present  activities  and  there  is  strong 
justification  to  continue  and  streamline 
the  Commission’s  present  services. 

We  have  determined  which  program  ar- 
eas need  to  be  improved  or  expanded,  and 
have  established  basic  short-and  long-term 
agency  goals  which,  if  met,  will  enable  us 
to  be  properly  staffed,  equipped,  and 
funded  to  serve  Pennsylvania’s  fishing  and 
boating  public  during  the  next  decade.  1 
want  to  share  these  goals  and  plans  with 
you  so  you  understand  how  our  present 
efforts  dovetail  with  these  agency  goals, 
and  how  they  set  the  stage  to  move  the 
Commission  forward. 

• Fegislative  action  is  required  to  provide 
adequate  funding  to  maintain  present  lev- 
els of  service,  restore  and  expand  essential 
programs,  and  move  into  new  areas  of 
needed  public  service. 

• There  is  a need  to  improve  law  enforce- 
ment services,  with  particular  emphasis  on 
boating  law  enforcement.  This  means  a 
modest  increase  in  the  number  of  our  sala- 
ried officers  as  well  as  other  expenditures 
for  angler  and  boater  education.  We  also 
plan  to  have  better  surveillance  of  boating 
activities  during  busy  boating  periods,  and 
additional  staffing  and  equipment  is  re- 
quired to  provide  better  public  accessibility 
to  Commission  personnel  during  the  busy 
fishing  and  boating  season. 

• There  is  a need  to  improve  our 
warmwater/coolwater  fisheries  manage- 
ment and  culture  programs  and  provide 
more  and  varied  opportunities  for  Penn- 
sylvania anglers  to  catch  these  increasingly 
popular  fish.  Many  essential  fishery  re- 
search activities  need  to  be  implemented. 

• We  have  implemented  an  aquatic  re- 
source education  program  within  our  pub- 
lic school  system  and  plan  to  expand  our 
media  relations  and  broadcasting  efforts 
to  promote  awareness  of  Pennsylvania’s 
aquatic  resources  and  teach  the  skills  for 
safe  boating  and  successful  fishing  in 
Pennsylvania  waters. 


• There  is  an  urgent  need  to  strengthen 
our  boating  programs  to  enhance  boating 
safety  and  enjoyment  on  our  increasingly 
crowded  waterways  and  provide  more  and 
better  boating  access  for  Pennsylvania 
boaters.  Efforts  will  include  increased  em- 
phasis on  boating  enforcement  on  our 
busiest  waterways  and  improvements  to 
our  aids  to  navigation,  water  rescue  train- 
ing and,  most  importantly,  our  boating 
safety  education  programs. 

• We  must  devote  more  resources  to  badly 
needed  maintenance,  repair  and  improve- 
ments of  our  infrastructure  of  property 
and  facilities.  The  Fish  Commission’s 
trout  and  salmon  hatcheries  need  improve- 
ments to  wastewater  treatment  and  other 
facilities  to  be  able  to  continue  functioning 
efficiently  at  current  production  levels. 
Many  of  our  warmwater  production  sta- 
tions are  in  serious  need  of  major  repairs 
and  improvements.  Many  of  our  boating 
and  fishing  access  areas  require  major  re- 
pairs or  expansion,  and  we  need  to  im- 
prove administrative  and  operational 
facilities  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  angling 
and  boating  public. 

• We  must  continue  to  pursue  boating 
and  fishing  access  area  and  stream  and 
waterfront  acquisition  and  development  so 
that  future  generations  of  Pennsylvanians 
can  be  guaranteed  access  to  the  waters  of 
the  Commonwealth.  Expansion  of  the 
Adopt-a-Stream  program  is  needed  and 
will  provide  a wealth  of  benefits  to  the  re- 
sources and  the  public. 

• We  must  strengthen  staff  performance 
and  agency  management  efforts  by  im- 
proved planning,  better  training  of  our 
employees,  and  improved  purchasing  and 
warehousing  procedures.  Streamlined  ad- 
ministration of  fishing  license  and  boat 
registration  services  is  planned  by  upgrad- 
ing electronic  data  processing  systems. 

The  Fish  Commission  has  been,  and 
will  continue  to  be,  a frugal  guardian  of 
the  money  paid  by  its  customers,  Pennsyl- 
vania’s boaters  and  anglers.  We  believe  our 
customers  are  reasonable  in  their  desires 
for  continued  and  improved  services.  It  is 
apparent  that  an  independent  and  distinct 
agency  is  best  equipped  to  meet  the  needs 
of  present  and  future  generations  of  Penn- 
sylvania boaters  and  anglers,  and  is  best 
equipped  to  protect,  conserve  and  enhance 
our  water  resources.  We  need  your  support 
in  providing  us  with  the  resources  to  meet 
the  needs  of  Pennsylvania’s  boaters  and 
anglers.  Ask  your  state  senator  or  repre- 
sentative to  support  the  Pennsylvania  Fish 
Commission’s  efforts  to  properly  fund  the 
fishing  and  boating  programs. 


December  1988  Vol.  57  No.  12 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Leon  Reed 
President 
Honesdale 
David  Coe 
Vice  President 
State  College 
Marilyn  A.  Black 
Cochranton 
Leonard  A.  Green 
Carlisle 
Ross  J.  Huhn 
Saltsburg 
Calvin  J.  Kern 
Whitehall 
T.  T.  Metzger,  Jr. 

Johnstown 
Joan  R.  Plumly 
Jenkintown 
William  J.  Sabatose 
Brockport 
J.  Wayne  Yorks 
Benton 

Boating  Advisory  Board 

Thaddeus  Piotrowski 
Chairman 
Bloomsburg 
Clayton  Buchanan 
Pittsburgh 
Donald  J.  Little 
Philadelphia 
Judy  Obert 
Greentown 
Gerald  Sedney 
Erie 


Pennsylvania 


The  Keystone  State's  Official  Fishing  Magazine 


DEC  0 1 I98U 


An  Interview  with  Lotta  Kasts,  Master  Fisherperson 

by  Bill  Porter 

Talk  about  treading  lightly  on  thin  ice 4 

The  Adaptable  Smallmouth  Bass  by  R.  L.  Hoopes 
Commission  biologists  know  some  amazing  facts  about  one  of 
Pennsylvania’s  most  popular  fish  7 

Pennsylvania  Angler  Subject  Index,  Volume  57  (January  1988 
through  December  1988) 12 


Chasing  the  Winter  Doldrums  by  Walter  E.  Seifried 
Trout  offer  interesting  angling  possibilities  in  some  streams  right  now  . 14 

Northeast  Pennsylvania’s  Bounty  on  Ice  by  George  Smith 
Hard-water  action  abounds  in  this  part  of  the  Keystone  State 16 

River  Walleye  in  Winter  by  Mike  B/eech 
Winter  walleye  specialists  have  pretty  good  reasons  for  being  so  secretive  22 


Who  Wants  a Swamp?  by  Ron  Tibboti 
Wetlands  provide  fish,  flood  control  and  clean  water 26 

KIDS  PAGE!  by  Steve  Ulsh 

And  now,  part  II  of  “Finding  Fish”  28 


Magazine  Staff 

Editor — Art  Michaels 
Art  Director — Ted  Walke 
Circulation — Eleanor  Mutch 
Staff  Assistant — Rose  Ann  Bartal 
Staff  Assistant — Charlene  Glisan 


Pennsylvania  Angler  (ISSN0031-434X)  is  published  monthly  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission,  3532  Walnut  Street,  Harrisbuig, 
PA  17109.©  1988.  Nothing  in  this  magazine  may  be  reprinted  with- 
out the  written  permission  of  the  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission. 
Subscription  rates:  one  year,  $6;  single  copies  are  $1.50  each.  Sec- 
ond class  postage  is  paid  at  Harrisburg,  PA.  POSTMASTER:  Send 
address  changes  to:  Angler  Circulation,  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commis- 
sion, PO.  Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  For  subscription 
and  change  of  address,  use  above  address.  Please  allow  six  weeks 
for  processing.  Send  all  other  correspondence  to:  The  Editor,  Penn- 
sylvania Angler  P.O . Box  1673,  Harrisburg,  PA  17105-1673.  Edito- 
rial queries  and  contributions  are  welcomed,  but  must  be 
accompanied  by  self-addressed,  stamped  envelopes.  Material  ac- 
cepted for  publication  is  subject  to  Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 
standards  and  requirements  for  editing  and  revising.  Submissions 
are  handled  with  care,  but  the  publisher  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  the  return  or  safety  of  submissions  in  his  possession  or  in  tran- 
sit. The  authors’  views,  ideas  and  advice  expressed  in  this  magazine 
do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  opinion  or  official  position  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  or  its  staff. 


Kate’s  First  Fish  by  Cheryl  Riley 
The  author,  active  in  the  Harrisburg  Big  Brother/Big  Sister  Program, 
describes  how  her  “little  sister”  landed  her  first  fish  32 


The  cover 

This  issue’s  front  cover,  photographed  by  Lefty  Kreh,  suggests  that  the 
season  to  be  jolly  can  also  be  the  season  to  be  fishing.  If  you’re  itching  to 
lower  some  baits  on  a few  tip-ups,  see  page  16.  For  more  winter  fishing 
opportunities,  turn  to  pages  14  and  22.  Remember  how  terrific  your  stream 
smallmouth  bass  fishing  was  last  season?  You’ll  find  out  why  on  page  7.  The 
Angler  volume  index  on  page  12  can  help  you  find  stories  from  all  of  last 
year’s  Angler  issues.  Lastly,  see  page  26  for  a thorough  answer  to  the 
question,  who  needs  a swamp? 


STATE  LIBRARY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA 
DOCUMENTS  SECTION 


iVP  V&F** 


VC 


\\Vv 


Bill  Portef 


Piscatorial  fame  has  historically  been  a 
province  of  men  from  Izaak  Walton’s  time 
to  the  present.  Well,  that  is  about  to 
change,  if  it  hasn’t  already.  Meet  Lotta 
Kasts,  obviously  not  her  real  name  for— 
possibly — my  protection. 

I interviewed  Lotta,  and  here  is  a cap- 
sule of  her  fishing  career  to  date  in  some 
sort  of  chronological  order. 

The  style  is  that  of  Izaak  Walton  in  his 
The  Compleat  Angler  or  John  Hersey  in 
his  more  recent  Blues—  how  else  is  one  to 
compress  a 40-year  fishing  career  into  a 
few  pages?  So  “L”  for  Lotta  and  “R”  for 
Reporter.  The  chronicle  begins: 

R.  “When  did  you  first  become  inter- 
ested in  angling  and  where?” 

L.  “1  became  interested  in  fishin’  about 
40  years  ago  on  the  Wackensackem 
Creek.” 

R.  “Indian,  Ms.  Kasts?” 

L.  “No.  Irish,  and  it’s  Mrs.  Kasts!” 

R.  “No,  I meant  the  name  of  the 
stream.”  The  reporter  made  a mental  note 
to  phrase  his  questions  with  a little  more 
concern  for  his  well-being. 

L.  “Oh,  that.  Well,  we  were  after  suck- 
ers on  the  spring  run  and  when  they  would 
come  up  the  riffles,  we’d  wack  ’em  and 
sack  ’em  in  an  old  feed  bag,  so  we  just 
gave  the  run  that  name.” 

R.  “When  was  your  first  interesting 
rod-and-reel  experience?” 

L.  “Some  young  fellow  asked  me  to  go 
bass  fishing  in  the  Juniata  River.  So  I got  a 
bunch  of  nightcrawlers  and  crayfish, 
stuffed  my  overalls  in  my  boots  and 
waited.  He  shows  up  with  a loaf  of  bread, 
a jug  of  wine  and  a book  of  poetry.  He 
sure  didn’t  know  much  about  bass  fishing 


in  the  wilderness.  By  the  end  of  the 
day,  he  did.  And  the  next  time,  I packed 
the  lunch.” 

R.  “Ever  use  plugs  for  bass?” 

L.  “Well,  yes  and  no.  It  took  some  get- 
ting used  to.  Live  fish  want  live  bait,  I al- 
ways said;  but  the  young  fellow— now  my 
Mister— had  become  an  artificial  nut,  so  I 
humored  him  and  used  the  contraptions.” 

“Old  habits  are  hard  to  shake,”  she 
chuckled.  “I  nearly  gave  him  a heart  at- 
tack one  time  up  at  Hill  Creek  State  Park. 
We  were  casting  for  bass  and  after  a 
couple  of  throws  if  the  plug  didn’t  work 
for  me,  I took  it  off  and  tied  on  another 
one,  and  so  on.  Well,  as  in  a dead  minnow 
or  a bedraggled  worm  being  discarded 
overboard,  I did  the  same  with  three  of  his 
Bass-Oreno  lures — we  went  home  early 
that  day. 

“However,  we  both  survived.  We  now 
have  separate  tackle  boxes  and  he  keeps 
his  locked  in  a steel  cabinet  in  the  garage. 

There  was  the  incident  in  the  Susque- 
hanna River  a couple  of  years  later  that  set 
him  back  a little.  We  were  below  the  Rock- 
ville Bridge  on  a stinking  hot  day  in  early 
afternoon.  It  was  so  warm  that  we  found 
a large  rock  in  mid-river  with  a few  inches 
of  water  flowing  over  it,  so  it  was  out  of 
the  boat  to  cool  off.  Well,  you  can’t  get  a 
pheasant  without  a shot  in  the  air  and  you 
can’t  catch  a fish  without  a line  in  the  wa- 
ter, I always  said.  So  I got  a rod  out  of  the 
boat  and  put  a red-and-white  Jitterbug  on 
the  end. 

“Won’t  work,”  Husband  said.  “Wrong 
lure,  wrong  time  of  day  and  the  fish  are 
on  the  bottom  trying  to  keep  cool  under 
a rock.” 

One  cast  in  the  flat  water  below  the  rif- 
fle and  there  was  a mighty  splash  before  I 


4 December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


had  even  turned  the  reel  handle.  Net 
results— that’s  a little  joke,  Mr.  R,  and  I 
had  a 17-inch  smallmouth.  We  went  home 
early  that  day,  too.” 

R.  “Did  you  ever  fish  for  trout?” 

L.  “Some  of  my  best  fishing  was  for 
trout— don’t  bother  with  them  anymore— 
bluegills  are  better  eating. 

R.  “Could  you  tell  us  a little  of  your 
trouting  experience?” 

L.  “I  fished  Big  Spring  a lot  after  I got 
into  this  fishing  business  in  a serious  way. 
Gotta  lot  of  nice  trout  out  of  that  stream, 
but  I had  some  losses,  too.” 

R.  “What  was  your  biggest  loss?” 

L.  “Brand  new  pair  of  boots.  1 walked 
right  out  of  them  trying  to  get  out  to  the 
channel  in  the  Presbyterian  Dam.  He  (my 
Mister  of  above)  started  to  laugh.  We 
came  home  early  that  day,  too,  only  this 
time  1 was  doing  the  driving. 

“Then  1 lost  my  temper  once  in  the  up- 
per dam.  Mister  had  brought  along  one  of 
his  non-fishing  buddies  who  wanted  to 
learn  how.  We  were  on  the  east  side  of  the 
channel,  below  the  Blue  Hole  and  you  had 
to  know  where  to  wade  because  of  the 
muskrat  channels.  Anyway,  this  nincom- 
poop kept  his  bait  on  the  bank  about  20 
yards  behind  him  and  every  time  he 
needed  a worm,  he  sloshed  back  to  the 
shore  to  get  one.  Downright  annoying  to 
the  rest  of  us,  so  I moved  his  guidestakes 
about  a foot  or  so  to  the  right.  On  the 
next  trip  back  to  the  main  channel,  he 
missed  his  mark  and  wound  up  in  a musk- 
rat slot.  He  went  home  early  and  we  kept 
fishing.” 

R.  “Ever  do  any  fly  fishing?” 

L.  “Funny  you  should  ask,  1 certainly 
did,  but  it  took  a lot  of  doing  and  at  least 
one  temper  fit  to  get  any  good  at  it.” 

R.  (Taking  a chance)  “Want  to  tell  me 
about  that?” 

L.  “Sure.  It  started  when  1 saw  a fish 
story  writing  contest  for  amateurs — well, 
me  and  the  subject  had  to  be  about  flies 
and  fishing.  So  I wrote  about  my  begin- 
ning fishing  days  when  I was  still  on  the 
farm.  Told  ’em  about  bot  flies,  house 
flies,  horse  flies,  pine  flies  and  all  the  rest 
of  them  annoying  pests  and  ended  up  with 
a spiel  on  why  worms  were  best  if  for 
no  other  reason  that  they  stayed  on  the 
hook  better. 

“I  won  $150  worth  of  tackle  for  the  best 
humorous  entry,  and  that’s  what  made  me 
mad.  The  judges  weren’t  smart  enough  to 
know  I was  serious.  Anyway,  1 decided 
to  learn  to  use  the  little  feathered  things 
and  got  pretty  good  at  it — even  the  Mister 
said  so.” 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  5 


“What  was  your  biggest  catch  on  a 

fly?” 

“Probably  a 176-pound  one  at  Fish- 
erman’s Paradise — up  there  at  Belle- 
fonte.” 

(Being  very  careful)  “And  . . . ?” 

“Well,  this  was  back  when  they  had 
two  streams  up  there — one  for  men  and 
one  for  women.  1 fished  the  men’s — 
bigger  trout  and  better  water.  This  little 
fellow  kept  making  remarks  about  my 
form.  Casting,  that  is.  And  it  was  true. 
The  more  he  talked,  the  lower  my  backcast 
went.  Finally,  it  didn’t  come  forward.  I 
had  him  hooked  fair  and  square  right  on 
the  top  of  his  head.  He  seemed  more  terri- 
fied than  hurt  and  didn’t  want  anybody  to 
come  to  help  him. 

“Since  I had  done  it,  it  was  only  right 
that  I help  him.  So  over  his  protests  I put 
one  hand  on  his  hair  and  the  other  on  the 
streamer  fly  and  gave  a tug.  The  whole 
top  of  his  head  came  off.  That  is,  he  had 
on  a wig  and  it  came  off.  He  went  running 
for  the  parking  lot,  never  once  turning 
around.  Some  said  1 was  yelling  like  an 
Indian  waving  a scalp.  I just  wanted  to 
return  his  hair. 

“After  that,  trout  fishing  became  tame. 
I did  win  some  fishing  contests  where  I 
worked.  I couldn’t  get  in  the  men’s  divi- 


sion and  after  the  second  year,  no  more 
women  entered  fish  against  mine.  The 
next  year,  management  didn’t  have  a 
contest — they  just  gave  all  the  employees 
a discount  on  the  sporting  clothes 
they  made.” 

“Fish  out  of  state?” 

“Yep.  Fished  in  Canada  a few 
times.” 

R-  “That  all?” 

“Nope.  Fished  in  the  ocean,  too.” 

K-  “Tell  me  some  of  Canada’s  high- 
lights.” 

“1  volunteered  once  to  catch  enough 
bass  for  the  whole  camp  to  have  a fish  fry. 

I thought  I’d  get  some  help  from  Mister, 
but  1 didn’t.  We  were  on  a good  bass  lake, 
Tac  la  Peche,  in  Quebec.  So  Mister  and  I 
went  down  the  lake  off  the  weed  beds  and 
1 rigged  up  a fly  rod  and  two  baitcasting 
rods  with  frogs  for  bait. 

“Pretty  soon  the  loose  fly  line  was 
snaking  out  through  the  guides  and  the 
handles  on  each  of  the  other  two  rod-and- 
reel  combos  began  to  turn.  I just  set  the 
hooks  on  all  three  in  three  swoops  and 
then  played  in  the  heaviest  fish  first.  No 
sooner  did  I get  them  in  than  I baited  up 
and  out  again,  and  to  tell  the  truth,  my 
arm  was  getting  tired. 

“Meantime  Mister  had  three  rigs  in  the 


water,  same  bait  and  no  bites.  To  get  a 
rest,  I offered  to  change  places  in  the  boat 
and  let  him  use  my  rods.  He  agreed  to 
this,  making  me  swear  a blood  oath  not  to 
tell  anyone.  No  sooner  did  I get  to  the 
stern  than  the  same  thing  happened. 

“The  fish  had  followed  me  around  the 
boat  and  were  attacking  the  frogs  on  the 
other  set  of  rods.  Mister  still  hadn’t 
caught  a single  keeping-size  bass.  Then  we 
had  what  we  needed  and  made  for  the 
dock.  ‘You  probably  want  to  fillet  those 
bass,  don’t  you,  Honey,  while  I clean  up  a 
bit?’  And  he  did  and  I never  said  a word 
until  now.  By  now,  this  fishing  was  get- 
ting to  be  real  fun  since  I was  getting  the 
hang  of  it.” 

- “Ever  lose  a big  one?” 

L-  “Well,  you  can’t  cook  ’em  if  you 
don’t  hook  ’em,  1 always  said.  And  that 
also  includes  the  hooked  ones  that  got 
away.  The  Mister  and  I were  up  on  that 
same  Lac  la  Peche  the  next  year  when  I 
got  hold  of  a big  smallmouth  on  a bass 
bug.  After  a bit  all  the  fly  line  was  out, 
then  all  the  backing.  The  rod  was  pointed 
at  the  fish.  Then  it  made  one  more  can- 
nonball jump  and  the  line  snapped  with  a 
pistol-shot  crack.  The  fish  was  gone.  Took 
some  teasing  back  at  the  lodge  that 
evening  about  the  big  one  that  got  away. 

“Next  day  I borrowed  about  50  feet  of 
clothesline  from  the  camp’s  laundry  line 
and  headed  back  down  the  lake.  While 
Mister  was  driving  the  boat,  1 fastened 
heavy  spoons  and  similar  lures  about  a 
foot  apart  for  about  three-quarters  of  that 
clothesline. 

“Won’t  work,”  said  Mister. 

“Anyway,  we  got  to  the  edge  of  the 
weed  beds  where  the  big  bass  broke  off, 
and  I started  to  troll  with  my  home-made 
dragging  setup.  Sooner  or  later  the  back- 
ing or  some  part  of  the  30  yards  of  fly  line 
had  to  show  up.  That  fish  wasn’t  going 
too  far  dragging  all  that  line.  Several  hun- 
dreds of  pounds  of  weeds  later,  a piece  of 
monofilament  was  in  my  hand.  A little 
more  sorting  out  of  weeds  and  the  line 
and  the  end  of  the  fly  line  appeared.  But 
this  fight  wasn’t  over,  I cut  the  backing 
off— threaded  the  line  back  through  the 
fly  rod  guides,  worked  back  to  the  bass, 
which  broke  to  the  open  water,  and  the 
battle  began  again  with  the  fish  in  a net, 
finally. 

“Guess  I’m  turning  into  a real  sports- 
person.  We  took  a couple  of  pictures, 
weighed  the  bass— 5 pounds,  10  ounces, 
and  turned  it  loose.” 

The  reporter  folded  his  notebook — he 
knew  the  interview  was  over.  1^*] 


6 December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Bob  Clouser 


The  Adaptable  Smallmouth  Bass 


by  R.  L.  Hoopes 

Smallmouth  bass  have  been  reproducing 
throughout  Pennsylvania  for  so  long  that 
most  anglers  think  the  smallmouth  bass 
has  always  been  here.  Before  the  immigra- 
tion of  European  settlers,  smallmouth 
bass  were  distributed  in  the  upper  Missis- 
sippi and  Great  Lakes  drainages.  This  dis- 
tribution included  parts  of  Pennsylvania  in 
the  Ohio  River  and  Lake  Erie  drainages. 
We  can  be  certain  that  smallmouth  bass 
occurred  in  Lake  Erie  as  well  as  in  the  Al- 
legheny River  and  its  tributaries. 

Regardless  of  its  historical  distribution, 
smallmouth  bass  are  currently  the  most 
abundant  gamefish  in  Pennsylvania. 
Smallmouth  bass  occur  in  every  drainage 
from  small  warmwater  streams  to  the  larg- 
est rivers.  Frequently  they  are  the  most  nu- 
merous predator  in  the  fish  community. 

Anglers  are  well  aware  of  the  abun- 
dance of  smallmouth  bass  in  Pennsylvania 
streams  and  rivers,  as  well  as  its  sporting 
qualities.  A survey  of  licensed  angler  fish- 


ing activities  several  years  ago  showed  that 
44  percent  had  fished  for  smallmouth 
bass.  Because  considerable  attention  and 
promotion  has  been  focused  on  river  fish- 
ing for  smallmouth  bass  since  the  time  of 
that  survey,  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  that 
currently  more  than  600,000  anglers  fish 
for  smallmouth  each  year  in  Pennsylvania. 
Skilled  anglers  fishing  for  smallmouth 
bass  in  Pennsylvania  catch  a lot  of  fish. 

Growing  angler  interest  in  fishing  rivers 
and  streams  for  smallmouth  bass  is  chal- 
lenging Fish  Commission  management 
opportunities.  The  Fish  Commission  is  re- 
sponsible for  ensuring  that  Pennsylvania’s 
warmwater  stream  and  river  habitats 
remain  suitable  to  sustain  thriving 
smallmouth  bass  populations  and  to  pro- 
vide recreational  anglers  opportunities  to 
enjoy  sustainable  quality  smallmouth  bass 
fishing. 

Fulfilling  those  obligations  to  the  fish- 
eries resources  and  to  the  angling  public 
requires  considerable  knowledge  of 


In  Pennsylvania  there  are  some  5,000 
miles  of  streams  and  rivers  with  over 
175,000  acres  of  water  that  can  support 
smallmouth  bass. 

smallmouth  bass  habitat,  its  biology  and 
angler  expectations  in  Pennsylvania.  Inten- 
sive statewide  smallmouth  bass  studies  ini- 
tiated in  1984  are  beginning  to  provide  the 
answers  needed  for  informed  decisions 
about  smallmouth  bass  management. 

Habitat 

If  a fish  biologist  could  design  the  best 
smallmouth  bass  habitat,  it  would  not  be 
much  different  from  the  habitat  in  rivers 
like  the  Juniata,  Susquehanna  and  Dela- 
ware along  with  their  major  tributaries. 
Thus,  it  is  surprising  that  historically 
smallmouth  bass  did  not  inhabit  all  of 
Pennsylvania’s  rivers.  The  best  physical 
habitat  for  smallmouth  bass  is  character- 
ized by  rocky  and  boulder-bottomed  large 
streams  and  rivers  with  extensive  shallow 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


water  areas  and  heavy  riffles  with  deep 
runs  and  swift  flows.  Lots  of  large  bass 
can  inhabit  rivers  like  these  if  the  water 
quality  is  suitable. 

Throughout  Pennsylvania  there  are 
about  5,000  miles  of  streams  and  rivers 
with  over  175,000  acres  of  water  that  can 
support  smallmouth  bass  populations. 
About  75  percent  of  this  acreage  is  con- 
tained in  major  rivers — those  rivers  with 
drainage  areas  exceeding  1,500  square 
miles.  The  Commonwealth  (the  public) 
owns  the  river  beds  from  water’s  edge  to 
water’s  edge  in  all  the  major  rivers  in 
Pennsylvania.  Developing  shoreline  access 
to  these  major  rivers  provides  outstanding 
fishing  opportunities. 

Warmwater  streams  containing 
smallmouth  bass  are  relatively  small,  but 

8 December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


there  are  about  2,500  miles  of  them.  Many 
of  these  warmwater  streams  are  loaned  to 
the  Commission’s  trout  stocking  program 
so  that  catchable  trout  can  be  stocked  in 
them  each  spring,  but  the  smallmouth 
bass,  tolerant  of  cold  water  necessary  for 
trout,  prevails  as  the  warm  summer  water 
temperatures  force  the  trout  that  have  es- 
caped the  spring  onslaught  of  trout  enthu- 
siasts to  seek  cooler  tributaries  or  die. 

Pennsylvania  has  a bountiful  resource  in 
its  warmwater  streams  and  rivers;  however, 
things  that  people  do  for  economic  devel- 
opment of  the  state  can  harm  smallmouth 
bass  habitat.  The  West  Branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna River  is  a shameful  example  of 
lost  fishing  opportunities  for  smallmouth 
bass  in  otherwise  outstanding  physical 
habitat  because  of  acid  mine  drainage. 


The  greed  of  a few  and  the  neglect  of 
many  have  resulted  in  lost  smallmouth 
bass  fishing  opportunities  in  more  than 
400  miles  and  10,000  acres  of  Pennsylva- 
nia rivers.  The  losses  in  warmwater 
streams  are  also  considerable.  Smallmouth 
bass  quickly  colonize  streams  and  rivers 
that  have  recovered  from  acid  mine  drain- 
age. The  recovery  from  this  pollution 
can  be  slow  and  costly;  a spirited  public 
commitment  is  needed  for  pollution  abate- 
ment. 

A more  subtle  but  no  less  tragic  deterio- 
ration of  smallmouth  bass  habitat  results 
from  silt  and  sedimentation.  The  source  of 
stream  and  river  sediments  is  soil  distur- 
bances within  the  watershed. 

In  the  large  drainages  of  Pennsylvania 
rivers,  vast  areas  of  soil  are  disturbed  par- 


Bob  Clouser 


ticularly  through  agriculture,  housing  de- 
velopments, road  construction  and 
mining.  Spring  and  summer  rainstorms 
often  bring  the  hope  of  good  crops  and 
welcome  relief  from  the  heat,  but  the  rain 
transports  the  disturbed  soils  into  our 
streams  and  rivers. 

Eroded  soils,  when  settled  on  a river 
bottom,  leave  it  featureless  and  unstable. 
Rocks  and  boulders  covered  with  mud  no 
longer  offer  smallmouth  bass  shelter 
where  they  can  hide  and  feed.  The 
smallmouth  bass  population  declines.  The 
fishing  gets  worse. 

Practicing  erosion  control  keeps  the  soil 
on  the  land  and  out  of  the  streams.  In 
time,  silted  streams  and  rivers  purge  them- 
selves, rocks  and  boulders  reappear, 
smallmouth  populations  increase,  and  the 


fishing  gets  better.  Conservation  districts 
and  watershed  conservation  associations 
can  serve  an  important  role  in  reducing 
erosion  as  could  renewed  and  enthusiastic 
enforcement  of  existing  erosion  control 
regulations. 

Most  often,  erosion  control  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  individual.  The  farmer  tilling 
fields,  the  people  on  graders  and  dozers, 
the  township  or  forestry  road  maintenance 
supervisor  and  the  construction  boss  all 
have  a responsibility  to  see  that  the  soil 
stays  out  of  our  streams  and  rivers. 

Dams  on  streams  and  rivers  spell  trou- 
ble for  smallmouth  bass.  The  reduced 
river  speed  and  the  height  of  the  dam 
cause  sediments  to  be  trapped  upstream  of 
the  dam.  In  extreme  cases,  sediments 
nearly  fill  the  dam  to  its  top.  This  is 
no  place  for  smallmouth  bass  and  few 
stay  there. 

Loss  of  shallow  water,  the  areas  needed 
by  adult  smallmouth  bass  for  spawning 
and  by  the  young  for  nurseries,  is  another 
serious  consequence  of  impounding  rivers 
and  streams.  Resisting  the  needless  loss  of 
smallmouth  fisheries  that  result  from  im- 
pounding streams  and  rivers  is  an  impor- 
tant conservation  priority. 

Reduced  river  flows  can  be  caused  by 
natural  drought,  but  people  also  cause  se- 
rious reduction  in  river  flows.  Water  with- 
drawn from  streams  and  rivers  for  power 
plant  cooling,  industry  and  domestic  use 
decreases  the  water  available  for  fish. 

When  protracted  low  flows  occur,  the 
loss  of  habitat  can  be  hard  on  large  bass. 
As  the  river  flow  diminishes,  the  water 
depth  and  amount  of  rubble  and  boulders 
covered  with  water  decrease.  Large  bass 
live  in  these  places,  and  when  they  are 
gone,  the  bass  must  crowd  into  the  re- 
maining suitable  habitat.  Some  die.  How- 
ever, the  greater  amounts  of  shallow  water 
that  are  usually  caused  by  decreased  river 
flow  mean  more  nursery  areas  for  young 
bass.  Improved  survival  of  young  bass  can 
occur  during  the  low  river  flow.  This  helps 
restore  adult  bass  populations  if  river 
flows  return  to  normal  during  later  years. 

Populations 

Where  smallmouth  bass  occur  in  un- 
silted, unimpounded  streams  and  rivers  of 
good  quality,  there  are  usually  lots  of 
them.  Their  abundance  is  maintained 
through  natural  reproduction.  Natural  re- 
production of  smallmouth  bass  is  so  suc- 
cessful in  Pennsylvania  streams  and  rivers 
that  they  are  almost  never  stocked. 

Stocking  is  occasionally  used  to  start  a 
population  that  will  soon  reproduce  on  its 


own  in  those  rare  instances  when  abated 
acid  mine  drainage  has  improved  a stream 
so  that  it  can  support  fish  life.  Small- 
mouth bass  are  expected  to  reproduce  on 
their  own,  and  they'  will,  if  the  environ- 
ment is  suitable  for  them. 

Warming  spring  water  temperatures 
cause  the  mature  smallmouth  bass  to 
move  to  shallow  water  frequently  along 
the  shorelines.  This  may  happen  up  to  two 
months  before  spawning.  While  in  the 
shallow  water  the  bass  engage  in  a lot  of 
aggressive  behavior— holding  territories, 
attacking  intruders,  biting  things  near 
them  and  feeding  a lot.  When  a cold 
weather  front  passes  through  the  area  and 
water  temperatures  drop,  this  behavior  de- 
creases but  picks  up  again  as  water  tem- 
peratures begin  to  rise. 

By  early  to  mid-May,  the  mature  male 
smallmouth  has  staked  claim  to  a small 
piece  of  river  bottom  with  the  right  combi- 
nations of  water  depth,  flow  and  bottom 
materials  for  its  nest.  The  male  bass  has 
no  intention  of  leaving  the  site  he  has  cho- 
sen. He  defends  it  vigorously  and  makes 
the  proper  courting  gestures  to  attract  a 
female  bass.  She’s  been  prowling  around 
flirting  with  the  males  and  doing  a lot  of 
chasing,  biting  and  feeding  of  her  own. 

When  a female  lays  eggs  in  a nest  with  a 
guarding  male,  he  continues  his  defense  of 
the  site  and  the  young  bass  after  they 
hatch,  until  the  young  disperse  along  the 
shoreline. 

Smallmouth  populations  have  been 
studied  intensively  by  Lish  Commission  bi- 
ologists for  years.  These  investigations 
have  focused  on  warmwater  streams  and 
on  major  rivers.  Warmwater  streams  of 
the  type  often  stocked  with  catchable  trout 
have  been  found  to  have  sizable 
smallmouth  bass  populations.  Studies  of 
one  of  the  better  warmwater  streams  have 
shown  that  smallmouth  bass  number 
about  650  bass  per  mile  of  stream  with  50 
of  them  being  legal  size.  The  smallmouth 
population  in  a major  river  such  as  the 
Juniata  could  have  10,000  bass  per  river 
mile  with  1,000  (10  percent)  of  them  larger 
than  10  inches. 

Using  these  population  numbers  and 
some  simple  arithmetic,  it  can  be  esti- 
mated that  there  are  more  than  25  million 
smallmouth  bass  in  Pennsylvania  streams 
and  rivers,  and  over  2.5  million  of  them 
are  greater  than  10  inches.  Amazingly, 
these  bass  continue  to  be  produced  year 
after  year  by  natural  reproduction  and 
growth  in  a healthy  environment.  No 
stocking  is  required — just  habitat  protec- 
tion and  sensible  fishing  opportunities. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  9 


This  Susquehanna  River  smallmouth  bass  is  typical  of  those  caught  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  Juniata  River,  for  instance,  could  have  10,000  bass  per  river  mile  with  10  percent 
(1,000  bass)  over  10  inches  long.  One  could  estimate  that  in  Pennsylvania  streams  and 
rivers  there  could  be  about  25  million  smallmouth  bass,  with  2.5  million  (10  percent) 

over  10  inches  long. 


Few  events  are  severe  enough  to  disrupt 
the  successful  reproduction  of  our 
smallmouth  bass. 

Floods 

Most  dramatic  in  its  effect  on 
smallmouth  bass  reproduction  and  one  di- 
saster that  can  nearly  eliminate  all  the  re- 
production in  a year  is  flooding.  Flooding 
during  and  immediately  following 
smallmouth  bass  spawning  increases  river 
depths,  changes  flow  patterns  and  mud- 
dies the  water — all  of  which  can  cause  the 
male  to  abandon  his  nest-guarding  duties. 
A deserted  nest  and  unprotected  young 
bass  will  soon  be  destroyed. 

Predators 

Predators  can  also  interfere  with  bass  re- 
production. Often  such  a disruption  is 
permanent  because  the  individual  bass  at- 
tacked is  often  killed  by  the  predator. 
Bass,  in  shallow  water  and  staying  close  to 
nesting  sites,  are  easy  prey  for  fish-eating 
birds  such  as  ospreys  and  great  blue  her- 
ons, but  these  avian  predators  take  rela- 
tively few  bass.  Raccoon,  mink  and  otter 
also  take  a few  bass,  but  usually  those  bass 
slowed  by  sickness. 

Anglers  are  the  most  serious  predators. 
Because  the  spring  bass  are  aggressive  and 
in  shallow  water,  they  can  be  more  easily 
caught  by  anglers.  Bass,  having  been 
caught  by  an  angler,  quickly  return  to 
guarding  the  nest  and  young  if  released 
immediately  unharmed.  The  potential  ef- 
fects of  anglers  on  bass  in  the  spring 
depend  on  the  number  of  anglers  that 
are  fishing. 

Angler  use 

Observed  levels  of  angler  use  on  the 
Susquehanna  River  have  provided  some 
insight  on  the  trends.  Between  1974  and 
1984,  angler  use  more  than  doubled  on  the 
river.  Similar  trends  have  been  observed  in 
the  Delaware  River,  and  it  seems  reason- 
able to  expect  that  increased  angler  use  has 
occurred  on  all  Pennsylvania  smallmouth 
bass  fisheries. 

Studies  of  angler  use  on  Pennsylvania 
streams  and  rivers  were  conducted  by  the 
Fish  Commission  during  1986.  These  sur- 
veys, which  included  personal  interviews 
of  more  than  3,600  anglers,  have  provided 
a wealth  of  information  about  angler  use 
of  smallmouth  bass.  Two  major  rivers 
were  included  as  study  sites,  the  Juniata 
River  and  the  Susquehanna  River  North 
Branch,  and  two  warmwater  streams  that 
are  stocked  with  catchable  trout,  Bald  Ea- 
gle Creek  and  Standing  Stone  Creek. 


10  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Bob  Clouser 


The  level  of  self-restraint  by 
bass  anglers  practicing  catch 
and  release  or  limiting  their 
harvest  to  larger  bass 
suggests  the  angling  public’s 
strong  inclination  to 
conserve  bass  resources. 


Trout  anglers  overwhelmed  the  survey 
results  on  the  two  warmwater  streams 
stocked  with  catchable  trout.  Few  anglers 
interviewed  were  after  bass  and  only  10 
percent  of  the  anglers  had  caught  any 
bass.  As  might  be  expected  of  trout  an- 
glers, three-fourths  of  those  interviewed 
said  they  would  not  keep  legal-size  bass 
even  if  they  caught  them.  Even  though 
only  a small  portion  of  the  anglers  had 
any  interest  in  bass,  it  still  amounted  to 
heavy  fishing  pressure  for  bass  because  so 
many  anglers  fish  these  streams  and  so  few 
legal  bass  occur  in  them. 

Anglers  interested  in  bass  were  a major 
part  of  the  fishing  effort  on  the  rivers  sur- 
veyed. On  the  Juniata  River,  68  percent, 
and  on  the  North  Branch,  58  percent  of 
the  fishing  effort  was  for  bass.  Nearly  half 
the  anglers  on  both  rivers  had  caught  at 
least  one  bass  when  interviewed.  Anglers 
fishing  for  smallmouth  bass  on  both  rivers 
enjoyed  catching,  on  average,  more  than 
two  bass  per  fishing  trip.  A number  of 
particularly  skilled  or  unusually  lucky  an- 
glers had  caught  more  than  10  smallmouth 
bass  when  interviewed.  Some  anglers  re- 
ported having  caught  more  than  50  bass. 

Most  of  the  bass  caught  by  the  anglers 
were  released.  Anglers  reported  releasing 
about  eight  out  of  every  10  bass  caught  on 
both  rivers.  Undoubtedly  many  of  the 
bass  were  released  because  they  were  less 
than  the  minimum  size  limit  of  10  inches. 

However,  when  anglers  were  questioned 
about  their  attitudes  about  bass  regula- 
tions and  harvesting  bass,  the  results  were 
surprising.  Many  anglers  on  both  rivers 
said  that  they  would  release  all  the  bass 
they  caught  regardless  of  size.  A number 
of  anglers  on  the  North  Branch  who  said 
that  they  would  keep  bass  indicated  they 
would  not  keep  a bass  unless  it  were  over 
12  inches  in  length.  Although  more  than 
500  anglers  had  harvested  bass  when  inter- 
viewed, only  two  had  kept  more  than  their 
legal  limit  of  six  bass. 


The  level  of  self-restraint  by  bass  anglers 
practicing  catch  and  release  or  limiting 
their  harvest  to  larger  bass  suggests  a 
strong  inclination  by  the  angling  public  to 
conserve  bass  resources.  A dilemma  for 
those  conservation-minded  anglers  who 
practice  such  self-restraint  by  releasing 
bass  they  caught  is  that  the  benefits  of 
bass  conserved  may  be  going  to  those  less 
restrained  in  their  fishing  behavior. 

The  question  arises:  Should  the  Com- 
mission promulgate  those  more  conserva- 
tive standards  of  restraint  for  all  anglers, 
and  if  so,  when  and  how  should  this 
be  done? 

Regulations 

Fishing  regulations  (season,  size  and 
creel  limits)  are  the  means  used  to  restrain 
angler  use  and  harvest  of  stream  and  river 
bass.  Currently  Pennsylvania  has  a num- 
ber of  different  regulatory  combinations 
used  for  smallmouth  bass.  Most  impor- 
tant in  providing  perspective  are  the  bass 
regulations  applied  to  the  Delaware  River. 
In  that  river,  bass  have  had  a 9-inch  mini- 
mum size  limit  and  year-round  open  sea- 
son for  more  than  20  years.  These  are  the 
most  liberal  regulations  for  river  bass  in 
Pennsylvania  and  the  smallmouth  con- 
tinue to  thrive  in  the  Delaware  River.  His- 
torical information  about  the  Delaware 
River  smallmouth  bass  is  meager,  so  we  do 
not  know  much  about  how  well  the  qual- 
ity of  the  fishing  has  held  up. 

Beginning  in  1981,  Pennsylvania’s  rivers 
and  streams,  other  than  the  Delaware 
River,  had  a new  set  of  regulations  for 
bass.  At  that  time  the  old  9-inch  minimum 
size  limit  was  increased  to  10  inches.  This 
had  the  effect  of  protecting  half  the  bass 
that  were  larger  than  9 inches. 

That  is,  if  all  the  bass  larger  than  9 
inches  were  measured,  half  of  them  would 
have  been  between  9 and  10  inches.  This 
was  a very  conservative  change  in  the  bass 
regulations. 

At  the  same  time  (1981),  the  season  for 
harvesting  bass,  previously  closed  from 
March  15  to  the  third  Saturday  in  June, 
was  opened  for  year-round  harvest  of 
bass.  This  was  about  a 25  percent  increase 
in  the  number  of  days  per  year  that  bass 
could  be  legally  harvested.  However,  be- 
cause the  time  for  harvest  was  opened  dur- 
ing the  spawning  season,  there  was  the 
potential  for  nearly  50  percent  of  the  total 
year’s  harvest  to  occur  in  spring,  during 
the  period  when  the  season  was  previously 
closed. 

It  is  possible  that  the  mixed  message  in 
these  regulatory  changes,  more  conserva- 


tive in  the  aspect  of  size  and  more  liberal 
regarding  the  season,  confused  the  angling 
public.  Many  anglers  complained  that  the 
quality  of  the  fishing  was  not  sustainable 
with  such  heavy  fishing  pressure  directed 
at  bass  during  the  spring. 

Thus,  Fish  Commission  biologists  com- 
pared river  and  stream  bass  population 
studies  conducted  before  1981  with  bass 
population  levels  since  the  change  in  regu- 
lations occurred.  These  comparisons 
showed  that  fewer  bass  larger  than  10 
inches  were  caught  in  the  samples  taken 
since  1981. 

A trophy  season  was  started  in  1987  for 
all  streams  and  rivers  in  the  Susquehanna 
River  Basin.  During  this  trophy  season, 
which  runs  from  the  opening  day  of  trout 
season  to  the  first  Saturday  after  June  11, 
the  minimum  size  limit  for  bass  in  streams 
and  rivers  is  15  inches.  The  size  limit  will 
protect  99  percent  of  the  smallmouth  bass. 

Regardless  of  the  regulatory  combina- 
tions in  effect  for  stream  and  river  bass  in 
various  parts  of  the  state,  they  should  not 
be  viewed  as  an  irreversible  commitment  to 
the  smallmouth  bass  fisheries.  Fishing 
pressure  will  continue  to  increase  as  more 
anglers  discover  the  excellence  of 
smallmouth  bass  fishing  in  Pennsylvania’s 
streams  and  rivers.  Many  regulatory  op- 
tions are  available  to  ensure  a sustainable 
level  of  quality  in  our  smallmouth  bass 
fisheries;  we  have  investigated  a few. 

The  angling  public  needs  to  become  in- 
volved in  future  decisions  concerning  regu- 
lations for  smallmouth  bass.  It  is 
important  that  the  Fish  Commission’s  de- 
cision makers  be  made  aware  of  anglers’ 
desires  concerning  conservation  of 
smallmouth  fisheries  and  the  level  of  qual- 
ity that  anglers  expect  when  they  fish  for 
smallmouth  bass. 

There  are  many  options  available  to  the 
Fish  Commission  to  fulfill  its  mission  to 
protect,  conserve  and  enhance  Pennsylva- 
nia fisheries  resources.  Selecting  the  appro- 
priate option  is  facilitated  by  considering 
the  angling  public’s  opinions,  as  well  as 
the  informed  judgments  of  the  resource 
management  professionals. 

Abundant  smallmouth  bass  will  be  a 
fishing  opportunity  for  Pennsylvania  an- 
glers as  long  as  bass  habitat  is  protected. 
Environmental  protection  is  our  priority. 
The  task  is  large  enough  to  require  all  our 
cooperation.  [771 


R.  L.  Hoopes  is  a fisheries  biologist  in  the 
Warmwater  Unit  of  the  Commission  Divi- 
sion of  Fisheries  Management. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  A ngler  1 1 


Subject  Index 

Volume  57 

(January  through  December  1988) 

Acid  Precipitation 

Why  be  ALLARMed?  Wilderman,  Dr.  Candie  C.  Jan.  25-27 . 

Allentown 

15  Minutes  from  Allentown.  Scholl,  Dennis,  Apr.  10-13. 

Bass 

A Bag  of  Bass  Fishing  Tricks.  Bleech,  Mike.  Jun.  22-25. 

Autumn  and  Those  River  Smallmouths.  Gronaw,  Jim.  Oct.  22-23. 
Crankbaits  and  Smallmouths.  Bleech,  Mike.  Sep.  7-10. 

Getting  Hooked  on  Bass  Bugging.  Reynolds,  Joe.  Jul.  10-11. 
Stream  Smallmouth  in  May.  Sisley,  Nick.  May  16-19. 

Boating 

How  I Graduated  from  a 12-Footer  to  a 16-Footer.  Everett,  Sam. 
May  4-6. 

Motoring  Skills  for  Skinny  Waters.  Elkes,  Lou.  Sep.  22-23. 
Precautions  for  Using  Alcohol-Blended  Gasoline  in  Boats. 
Oct.  12-13. 

Solo  Flights  Checklist.  Michaels,  Art.  Aug.  24-25. 

The  Rescue.  Jenkins,  Paul.  Nov.  24-25. 

When  Children  Graduate  to  Fishing  from  a Boat.  Michaels,  Art. 
Sep.  12-13. 

Boat  trailering 

Smooth  Trailering  on  the  Long  Haul.  Michaels,  Art.  Mar.  20-22. 

Camping 

Pennsylvania’s  Best  Campground  Fishing.  Dolnack,  Chris. 
Jun.  4-7. 

Carp 

Curse  of  the  Carp.  Mize,  Jim.  May  20-21. 

Clarion  River 

The  Canoeable,  Canoeable  Clarion.  Lichvar,  Len.  Jul.  7-9. 

Catfish 

King  of  the  Keystone  Catfish.  Miller,  Jill.  Jan.  6. 

River  Catfish  Are  a Summer  Treat.  Gronaw,  Jim.  Jul.  14-15. 

Conneaut  Creek 

The  Many  Faces  of  Conneaut  Creek.  Black,  Dari.  Oct.  4-7. 
Crappies 

Crappies:  The  11th  hour  Bonanza.  Kasper,  J.  B.  Nov.  24-25. 
Pennsylvania  Crappie  Fishing  Seminar.  Black,  Dari.  Apr.  16-19. 

Conewango  Creek 

Conewango  ...  A Sleeping  Giant.  Dalo,  Roger.  Mar.  8-10. 

Envirothon 

The  1988  Pennsylvania  State  Envirothon.  Akens,  Sherri.  Sep.  11. 


Eisenhower,  Dwight  D. 

Ike:  Pennsylvania’s  Angling  President.  Sajna,  Mike.  Sep.  20-21. 

Fishing 

Crankbait  Tips.  Kasper,  J.  B.  Mar.  24-25. 

Fishing  with  Two  Poles.  Gerard,  Sue.  Aug.  18-19. 

Perch-Type  Lures.  Henning,  Kermit  G.  Mar.  23. 

The  Simple  Pleasures  of  Wet-Wading.  Gronaw,  Jim.  Aug.  30-31. 
The  Ultimate  Bottom  Rig.  Everett,  Sam.  Sep.  14-15. 

20  Tips  for  Working  Topwater  Plugs.  Pfeiffer,  C.  Boyd. 
Aug.  11-14. 

Why  Take  a Youngster  Fishing?  Einsig,  Bill.  Mar.  14-15. 

What  Do  Anglers  Really  Know  About  Fish  Behavior?  Hunter, 
Ken.  Jun.  8-12. 

Fishing  (stories) 

A Family  Outdoor  Adventure.  Rupert,  Laura  J.  Nov.  4-6. 

A Year  in  the  Life.  Hobbs,  Charlie.  Nov.  12-13. 

Kate’s  First  Fish.  Riley,  Cheryl.  Dec.  32. 

The  One  that  Never  Really  Got  Away.  Fegely,  Tom.  Feb.  12-13. 

Flies,  fly  tying 

A Spent  Microcaddis.  Lively,  Chauncy  K.  May  12-13. 

Terrestrials  for  Tough  Trout.  Murray,  Harry  W.  Sep.  24-26. 

The  Dry  Flies  of  Early  Spring.  Howey,  Ed.  Apr.  26-27. 

The  Golden  Oldies.  Eastby,  Allen  G.  Jun.  14-17. 

The  Main  Line  Fly  Tyers  Club.  Woodhead,  Ronald  J.  Sep.  4-6. 
The  Muskrat  Nymph.  Lively,  Chauncy  K.  Mar.  12-13. 

The  Wooly  Bugger.  Lively,  Chauncy  K.  Oct.  20-21. 

Fly  fishing 

A Bright  Fly  for  Dark  Places.  Tate,  Richard.  Feb.  30-31. 

Autumn  Brookies.  Shenk,  Ed.  Oct.  24-26. 

Bigger  Smallmouths  with  Flies.  Kreh,  Lefty.  Aug.  8-10. 

Fly  Rod  Bluegills.  Gronaw,  Jim.  May  10-11. 

Late-Season  Mays.  Rothrock,  Dave.  Oct.  8-11. 

Those  Tricky  Tricos.  Mulhollem,  Jeff.  Jul.  20-21. 

French  Creek 

French  Creek  Trophies.  Black,  Dari.  Nov.  16-19. 

Habitat 

Springtime  is  Nest  Time.  Steiner,  Linda.  Mar.  4-5. 

Habitat  improvement 

Sunken  Structures  Lift  Pymatuning  Fishing.  Steiner,  Linda. 
Apr.  20-21. 

Humor 

An  Interview  with  Lotta  Kasts,  Master  Fisherperson.  Porter,  Bill. 
Dec.  4-6. 

Boater  Beware!  Mize,  Jim.  Jul.  12-13. 

Curse  of  the  Carp.  Mize,  Jim.  May  20-21. 

Limericks  from  Angler  Readers.  Jan.  4-5. 

Is  Fishing  in  Your  Blood?  Mize,  Jim.  Feb.  28-29. 


12  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Ice  fishing 

Late  Ice  Is  the  Best  Ice.  Bleech,  Mike.  Feb.  25-27 . 

Northeast  Pennsylvania’s  Bounty  on  Ice.  Smith,  George. 
Dec.  16-21. 

Jigs 

Go  Shallow  and  Deep  with  Jigs.  Black,  Dari.  Jul.  16-19. 

Kids  Page 

Letter  Put-together,  A fish  culturist.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Jan.  28. 

Photo  quiz.  Ulsh  Steve;  Gettig,  Russ.  Feb.  14. 

The  Mighty  Muskellunge.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Mar.  11. 

Snake  Facts  and  Fiction.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Apr.  14. 

Fish  Facts;  Frog,  snake,  turtle  or  fish.  Ulsh,  Steve.  May  22. 

Fish  Spelling  List.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Jun.  13. 

Lighten  up  for  summer  trout.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Jul.  22. 

Hats  off  to  kids!  Ulsh,  Steve.  Aug.  23. 

Supermarket  Baits.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Sep.  27 

Fins,  shapes,  spots,  stripes  and  tails.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Oct.  14. 

Finding  fish.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Nov.  11. 

Ice  Thickness.  Ulsh,  Steve.  Dec.  28. 

Lake  Erie 

Prepare  for  Your  Lake  Erie  Offshore  Charter.  Michaels,  Art. 
Feb.  10-11. 

Leaders 

Leaders:  Short  Is  Better.  Bashline,  Jim.  Aug.  7. 

Littering 

“Hey,  Mister  ...”  Dubbs,  Paula.  Nov.  14-15. 

Lure  making 

Make  ’em  Look  Alive.  Bleech,  Mike.  Apr.  4-6. 

Make  Your  Own  Shad  Darts.  Scholl,  Dennis.  Mar.  16-19. 
Molding,  Making  and  Tying  the  Bucktail  and  Jig.  Pfeiffer,  C. 
Boyd.  Nov.  20-23. 

Mud  Run 

The  Magic  of  Mud  Run.  Smith,  George.  Mar.  26-27. 

Muskies 

Northwest  Pennsylvania’s  Small-Stream  Muskies.  Byham,  Joe. 
Aug.  4-6. 

Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission 

Adopt-a-Stream:  Habitat  Improvement  for  the  Future.  Lalo, 
Julie.  Sep.  16-19. 

Anatomy  of  a Pollution.  Arway,  John  A.  Feb.  4-6. 

Delayed  Harvest,  Artificial  Lures  Only.  Weirich,  C.  Blake. 
Aug.  26-27. 


August  1988 


Pennsylvania  Fish  Commission  Annual  Report.  Jan.  7-24. 
Pennsylvania’s  Wild  Trout  Resources:  Here  Today,  Better  Tomor- 
row. Lorson,  Richard  D.  May  7-9. 

The  Adaptable  Smallmouth  Bass.  Hoopes,  R.  L.  Dec.  7-11. 

The  Commission’s  King-of-Prussia  Expo.  Shaffer,  Larry. 
Aug.  15-17. 

The  Cooperative  Nursery  Branch:  Partnership  that  Thrives. 
McKean,  Howard  L.  Feb.  7-9. 

Where  Do  All  the  Stocked  Fish  Come  From?  Snyder,  Richard  A. 
Jul.  26-28. 

Philadelphia 

Philadelphia  Fisheries:  Muskies,  Stripers,  Bass  and  Trout. 
Kaufmann,  Mike.  May  23-24. 

Pymatuning  Lake 

Sunken  Structures  Lift  Pymatuning  Fishing.  Steiner,  Linda.  Apr. 
Apr.  20-21. 

Reptiles  and  amphibians 

Sharing  the  Stream.  Stairs,  Kenneth  J.  Mar.  6-7. 

Stalker  of  the  Dark  Retreat.  McDonald,  Joe.  Oct.  15-19. 

Winter  Reflections  on  Dramas  Past.  McDonald,  Joe.  Feb.  15-20. 

Shad 

High-Water  and  Low- Water  Shad  Action.  Scholl,  Dennis. 
May  14-15. 

Shad  Fishing  from  Shore.  Punola,  John  A.  Apr.  15 
Suckers 

The  Suckers  Are  Here.  Thompson,  David  R.  Apr.  28. 

Trout  fishing 

As  the  Worm  Turns.  Reynolds,  Joe.  Apr.  7-9. 

Chasing  the  Winter  Doldrums.  Seifried,  Walter  E.  Dec.  14-15. 
Spinners  for  Spring  Action.  Dolnack,  Chris.  Apr.  22-25. 

Summer  Trout  the  Easy  Way.  Nale,  Mark  A.  Jul.  23-25. 

The  Trout  of  Autumn.  Bashline,  Jim.  Nov.  7-10. 

Walleye 

Pennsylvania’s  Walleye  Hotspots.  Dolnack,  Chris.  May  25-27. 
River  Walleye  in  Winter.  Bleech,  Mike.  Dec.  22-25. 

Rules  for  Walleye.  Hoopes,  R.  L.  Jun.  18-21. 

Water  pollution 

Anatomy  of  a Pollution.  Arway,  John  A.  Feb.  4-6. 

Why  be  ALLARMed?  Wilderman,  Dr.  Candie  C.  Jan.  25-27. 

Wetlands 

Who  Wants  a Swamp?  Tibbott,  Ron.  Dec.  26-27. 

Winter  activities 

Winter  Projects.  Knox,  Stephen  A.  Feb.  24-26. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  13 


Chasing  the 

Winter 

Doldrums 

by  Walter  E.  Seifried 

New  Years  Day  and  the  bowl  games  are  almost  history  and  there 
isn’t  much  to  look  forward  to  but  the  Super  Bowl  and  as- 
sociated hype.  The  lady  of  the  house  is  once  again  ready  to  re- 
establish her  domestic  dominance  as  she  skims  through  paint 
catalogs  with  determination,  and  you  know  what  that  means!  So 
what  happens  now? 

If  your  state  of  mind  is  anything  similar  to  mine,  your 
thoughts  are  probably  far  removed  from  such  household  respon- 
sibilities. Winter  is  cabin  fever  time  and  it  results  in  considerable 
daydreaming.  It  is  not  unusual  for  the  memory  to  drift  back  to 
happier  times,  perhaps  conjuring  up  visions  of  a brilliant  strike 
indicator  floating  jauntily  downstream  over  a stretch  of  good 
holding  water.  Suddenly  it  hesitates  and  instinctively  you  tighten 
the  resistance  of  a foot-long  brown  that  inhaled  your  bottom- 
searching nymph. 

“Honey,  how  about  a dusky  rose  for  the  living  room?” 
queries  the  spouse,  attempting  to  break  through  your  out-the- 
window  trance. 

“Huh?  Oh  yeah,  blue  would  look  great,”  you  reply.  The 
surprised  quizzical  look  on  your  wife’s  face  quickly  brings  you 
back  to  reality.  It’s  mid-winter  and  trout  fishing  is  still  3 V2 
months  away. 

Or  is  it? 

Extended  season,  brown  trout 

With  Pennsylvania’s  liberal  extended  trout  season,  one  is  per- 
mitted to  fish  many  trout  waters  until  the  final  day  of  February, 
and  many  streams  still  harbor  fish  that  escaped  the  angler’s 
creel,  particularly  streams  that  contain  brown  trout.  This  species 
has  an  uncanny  way  of  surviving  despite  heavy  angling  pressure. 
Streams  are  relatively  deserted  by  the  first  week  in  July,  and  if  a 
brownie  has  survived  this  long,  it  is  quite  likely  to  hold  over  until 
the  following  years. 

It  is  no  coincidence  that  90  percent  of  the  fish  I take  during 
the  winter  months  are  brown  trout.  This  is  positive  testimony  to 
the  inherent  cleverness  and  selectivity  of  this  wary  species. 

My  first  choice  for  a mid-winter  trout  fishing  stream  would 
certainly  be  the  limestoners  because  the  water  temperature  is 
warmer  than  nearby  freestone  streams,  and  those  waterways 
seldom  ice  over.  However,  regular  travel  to  these  desirable  but 
sometimes  far-removed  streams  during  the  snowy  months  can  be 
a problem.  Therefore,  my  next  choice  would  be  one  of  the 
closer-to-home  delayed-harvest  streams.  This  type  of  waterway, 
because  of  the  special  regulations  in  force,  often  contain  many 
hold-over  trout. 


This  recent  concept  is  one  of  the  most  innovative  and  immedi- 
ately successful  ideas  ever  to  come  along  in  fish  management 
history.  It  has  been  well-received  by  95  percent  of  the  anglers 
queried,  which  applies  to  both  spin  fishermen  and  fly  fishermen 
alike,  because  some  delayed-harvest  waters  are  open  to  both. 

The  basic  theory  behind  this  revolutionary  regulation  is  that 
some  streams,  despite  the  doubts  of  some  anglers,  are  deter- 
mined as  marginal  and  cannot  be  depended  on  to  support  trout 
beyond  a certain  time  of  the  year.  The  middle  of  June  has 
been  determined  as  the  time  when  many  streams  lose  the  ability 
to  hold  large  numbers  of  trout,  because  waters  warm  and 
flows  drop. 

Because  of  these  researched  facts,  the  belief  is  that  there  is  no 
reason  for  not  creeling  these  fish  once  optimum  water  tempera- 
tures have  been  exceeded. 

This  is  not  meant  to  suggest  that  all  trout  in  this  type  of 
water  will  perish  during  the  summer  heat.  On  the  contrary,  quite 
a few  trout  manage  to  make  it  through  the  torrid  summer  by 
seeking  out  cool  feeders  or  spring  seeps.  This  group  of  adapt- 
able fish  makes  up  the  hold-over  population  that  does  survive 
until  the  following  spring. 

These  designated  streams  are  usually  stocked  twice  during  the 
spring  and  no  fish  can  be  harvested  until  the  middle  of  June. 
This  results  in  a great  number  of  fish  available  to  the  angler  for 
approximately  three  months,  and  it  has  furnished  me  with  some 
of  the  finest  early  and  late  spring  catch-and-release  fishing  to  be 
found  anywhere  on  public  waters. 

At  present,  portions  of  14  streams  have  been  designated  as 
fly-fishing-only,  delayed-harvest  areas  in  Pennsylvania.  An  addi- 
tional eight  streams  permit  both  fly  fishing  and  spin  fishing. 

This  makes  a total  of  22  streams  that  the  delayed-harvest  regula- 
tion applies  to  and  they  are  scattered  over  the  entire  state. 

Winter  stream  conditions 

Mid-winter  freestone  trout  are  lethargic  fish  when  compared 
to  inhabitants  of  the  comparatively  warmer  limestone  waters. 
Temperatures  hover  between  33  and  35  degrees  and  with  few 
exceptions,  successful  angling  on  freestone  streams  depends  on 
a bottom-hugging,  slow,  dead-drift  presentation.  Trout  don’t 
chase  or  move  any  appreciable  distance  for  food  or  a fly  in 
ultra-cold  water. 

With  the  exception  of  the  unavoidable  cold  water  temperature, 
winter  stream  conditions  are  often  ideal  from  the  standpoint  of 
flow  and  clarity.  The  fish  have  a tendency  to  hold  in  the  quieter 
stretches  or  behind  some  obstruction,  avoiding  the  more  turbu- 
lent riffles. 

Flies,  methods 

The  downfall  awaiting  neophyte  cold-weather  anglers  is  that 
most  do  not  accept  the  fact  that  spring  and  summer  tactics  do 
not  take  these  fish  regularly.  Nine  out  of  10  winter  anglers  fish 
streamers  or  bucktails  in  the  typical  warm-weather  fashion,  in 
the  belief  the  trout  will  pursue  a fast-swinging  fly.  Occasionally 
these  anglers  take  a trout  on  these  minnow  imitations,  but  al- 
most invariably  they  score  when  the  fly  has  finished  its  swing 
downstream  and  is  simply  “hovering”  in  front  of  a holding  fish. 

A much  better  choice  would  be  to  use  the  popular  Wooly 
Bugger  type  of  Hy  with  the  pulsing  marabou  tail.  This  fly  can 
be  effective  in  cold  water  if  you  pinch  a splitshot  on  the  leader  a 
maximum  of  two  inches  from  the  fly,  then  fish  upstream  and 
bounce  it  along  the  bottom  with  an  up-and-down  motion  of  the 
rod  tip  as  the  current  carries  it  downstream.  This  slow  “jigging” 


14 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Walter  E Seifried 


mm 

a f ■ M 

nf 

mm 

[4y 

B JMBw  j i § 

action  can  be  effective  in  front  of  a sluggish  fish,  but  it  takes 
good  concentration  to  recognize  the  strike. 

Just  how  important  is  the  pattern  you  choose  for  mid-winter 
angling?  Experience  has  taught  me  that  it  is  not  overly  critical 
on  freestone  waters.  Your  favorite  all-purpose  brownish/gray 
searching  nymph,  well- weighted,  is  probably  as  good  a choice  as 
any.  One  such  fly  is  Chauncy  Lively’s  version  of  the  venerable 
Muskrat  Nymph  (see  the  March  1988  Angler).  This  is  undoubt- 
edly one  of  the  best  suggestive  patterns  ever  originated. 

No  matter  what  nymph  you  use,  it  must  be  presented  deep 
and  slowly. 

Another  of  my  favorite  winter  flies  is  the  easily  tied  Wooly 
Worm.  Rarely  do  I use  this  impressionistic  pattern  during  the 
warm  months,  preferring  instead  the  more  realistic  imitations. 
But  for  cold-weather  stream  angling  or  late-spring  damselfly  or 
dragonfly  lake  fishing,  it  can  be  ideal.  There  are  few  distractions 
in  the  way  of  active  insects  during  cold  weather,  and  1 believe 
this  makes  the  suggestive,  buggy-looking  weighted  Wooly  Worm 
so  attractive. 

I have  found  a body  of  heavily-dubbed  brownish/gray  or 
dark-olive  rabbit  fur,  ribbed  sparsely  with  a short-barbuled  dark 
grizzly  saddle  hackle,  to  be  effective.  Another  good  searching 
Wooly  Worm  is  the  two-tone  type,  with  a dark-brown  chenille 
back  and  a yellow  or  cream  body.  This,  too,  should  be  ribbed 
with  a dark  grizzly  or  brown  saddle  hackle. 

Another  “fly”  that  is  coming  into  prominence  for  winter 
angling  is  the  egg  pattern  in  its  various  forms.  1 prefer  the  Glo- 
Bug  type  eggs,  but  in  the  smaller  size  12.  All  trout  take  an  egg 
pattern,  but  the  rainbow  is  especially  vulnerable.  These  fish 
are  spring  spawners  and  instinctively  come  well  to  any  egg 
pattern  throughout  the  late  winter  and  early  spring  months.  It 
goes  without  saying  that  this  pattern  must  be  fished  in  a 
drag-free  manner. 


Midges 

There  are  times  when  the  winter  angler  receives  a hiatus  from 
bottom-dredging.  Flat-water  areas  should  be  carefully  scrutinized 
for  subtle,  almost  invisible  feeding  activity,  particularly  in  the 
late  afternoon  of  a sunny  winter  day.  This  usage  of  “warmth” 
can  trigger  a hatch  of  the  tiny  two-winged  Diptera  midge. 

I have  seen  trout  rise  to  these  minute  adult  flies  in  the  dead  of 
winter.  A size  20  Griffith  Gnat,  consisting  of  a thin  peacock  herl 
body,  palmered  with  a tiny  grizzly  hackle,  can  fool  them. 

I have  had  even  better  success  with  a sunken  dead-drifted  size 
20  maroon  or  green-bodied  midge  pupa  when  these  Chironomid 
flies  were  in  evidence.  This  simple  fly  consists  of  a weighted  size 
20  hook  and  a red/maroon  or  green  thread-covered  body.  A tiny 
Vi6-inch  tuft  of  light  gray  marabou  should  extend  from  the  rear 
of  the  body  and  a slightly  larger  tuft  should  protrude  past  the 
eye.  A turn  of  peacock  herl  immediately  behind  the  front  tuft 
completes  this  excellent  pattern.  This  is  an  exceptional  fly  for 
the  flats  and  is  deadly  throughout  the  year,  both  in  lakes 
and  streams. 

Comfort 

One  must  dress  in  a suitable  fashion  to  enjoy  this  fishing.  Not 
doing  so  results  in  much  discomfort  and  few  encore  appear- 
ances. Insulated  boots  are  a necessity,  and  you  may  welcome 
frequent  trips  to  the  warmth  of  the  car. 

The  emphasis  has  been  on  fishing  the  limestone  or  the 
delayed-harvest  streams,  but  by  no  means  overlook  other  trout 
waters  that  can  legally  be  fished.  One  can  never  assume  that 
these  streams  are  fished  out,  and  they  should  be  thoroughly 
investigated. 

The  next  time  you  have  those  inevitable  wintertime  doldrums, 
don’t  sit  around  and  daydream  about  fishing.  Toss  the  gear  in 
the  trunk  and  turn  the  wheels  toward  a trout  stream.  E3 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


15 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Northeast 
Pennsylvania’s 
Bounty  on  Ice 


by  George  Smith 

Ice  anglers  in  northeastern  Pennsylvania 
begin  to  get  itchy  when  the  nights  turn 
cold  and  the  daytime  temperatures  dip  be- 
low freezing. 

After  an  extended  cold  spell  they  stalk 
the  shorelines  of  favorite  lakes  and  ponds, 
waiting  for  safe  ice.  They  stand  expect- 
antly, hands  gloved  against  the  cold,  wait- 
ing for  four  or  more  inches  of  ice  to  create 
a fishing  platform  on  fertile  waterways  like 
Harveys  Lake,  Peck’s  Pond  or  Prompton 
Dam. 

When  the  anticipation  becomes  almost 
unbearable,  a brave  soul  timidly  tests  the 
“hard  water”  with  a spud  or  auger.  Tip- 
ups  and  jigging  rods  materialize  from  piles 
of  gear  crowded  in  cars  and  trucks  and  a 
steady  stream  of  anxious  anglers  pours 
onto  the  ice  in  pursuit  of  perch,  bluegills 
and  crappies. 

Others  try  their  luck  on  trout,  bass  and 
walleye,  and  a select  few— the  specialists 
among  ice  anglers— drop  big  baits  through 
eight-inch  holes  to  attract  toothy  pickerel 
and  husky  muskellunge. 

The  northeastern  region  of  the  Com- 
monwealth has  plenty  of  lakes  and  ponds 
that  attract  anglers.  The  waterways  can  be 
as  immense  as  5,700-acre  Lake  Wallen- 
paupack,  or  as  small  as  48-acre  Moon 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  17 


18  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Gregory  K.  Scott 


Francis  Slocum  State  Park  Lake  is  the  best-kept  secret 
in  Luzerne  County.  It  has  an  incredible  population  of 

all  the  warmwater  species. 


Lake.  They  can  be  relatively  shallow,  like 
Egypt  Meadow  Lake,  or  seemingly  bot- 
tomless, like  Harveys  Lake. 

Whatever  the  name  of  the  body  of  wa- 
ter, and  regardless  of  the  depth,  ice  fishing 
in  northeast  Pennsylvania  is  always  inter- 
esting and  productive. 

From  the  weedy  Pocono  ponds  to  the 
clear-as-glass  lakes,  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  Commonwealth  provides  ice  fisher- 
men with  an  angling  smorgasbord.  Not  all 
species  of  fish  commonly  caught  through 
the  ice  can  be  found  in  every  waterway, 
but  chances  are  that  anglers  can  have  more 
than  enough  action  to  keep  them  busy 
tending  the  flag-waving  tip-ups  and  bob- 
bing jigging  poles. 

Harveys  Lake,  located  along  Route  415 
in  the  borough  of  Harveys  Lake,  is  per- 
haps the  most  popular  ice  fishing  hotspot 
in  Luzerne  County.  It  has  a reputation  as 
a real  fish  factory,  and  that  reputation  is 
justified.  Autumn  trout  stocking  keeps  the 
lake  filled  with  brookies  and  rainbows, 
and  anglers  fishing  deep  often  latch  on  to 
trophy  lake  trout  and  salmon. 

The  658-acre  waterway  also  holds  a nice 
population  of  bass,  and  patient  anglers  of- 
ten fill  stringers  with  panfish  when  they 
fish  the  shallows. 

Best-kept  secret 

When  it  comes  to  ice  fishing,  Francis 
Slocum  State  Park,  West  Wyoming,  is  the 
best-kept  secret  in  the  county.  The  165-acre 
horseshoe-shaped  impoundment  does  not 
contain  trout,  but  it  does  have  an  incred- 
ible population  of  all  the  warmwater 
species. 

Perch,  bluegills  and  crappies  abound  in 
this  suburban  lake,  as  do  pickerel  and 
walleye.  Electrofishing  has  proven  that 
there  are  plenty  of  walleye  in  the  water,  but 
the  nimble-mouthed  fish  are  tough  to 
catch.  Anglers  who  pursue  muskellunge 
with  a passion  should  note  that  each  win- 
ter a few  40-inch-plus  fish  are  hauled  from 
beneath  the  ice  by  diligent  fishermen. 

Moon  Lake,  in  a county  park  near  the 
town  of  Lake  Silkworth,  is  small,  48  acres, 
but  holds  some  nice  bass  and  panfish. 
Trout  are  stocked,  and  ice  anglers  always 
manage  to  land  a few. 


The  ice  forms  early  on  Ricketts  Glen 
State  Park,  on  top  of  Red  Rock  Moun- 
tain, and  ice  fishermen  have  come  to  ex- 
pect early-season  action  at  Lake  Jean. 

The  254-acre  lake  along  Route  118  is  lo- 
cated in  one  of  the  coldest  spots  in  the 
northeast,  but  that  does  not  stop  the  bass, 
walleye,  panfish,  pickerel  and  the  occa- 
sional musky  from  feeding  voraciously. 
The  fish  are  willing,  but  the  lake  is  usually 
underfished  in  the  winter  because  many 
anglers  prefer  not  to  brave  the  extreme 
temperatures. 

The  Francis  E.  Walter  Dam,  an  im- 
poundment on  the  Lehigh  River  six  miles 
upstream  from  the  town  of  White  Haven, 
is  a big,  sprawling  Army  Corps  of  Engi- 
neers project  that  holds  rainbow  and 
brook  trout,  some  smallmouth  bass  and 
crappies.  In  recent  years  the  pickerel  and 
yellow  perch  populations  have  exploded  in 
this  waterway. 

Anglers  fishing  the  dam  should  be  sure 
to  monitor  the  water  levels.  During  unex- 
pected releases,  fishermen  may  have  to 
leap  over  large  cracks  in  the  ice  to  return 
safely  to  shore. 

Two  jewels 

To  the  north,  the  two  jewels  of  Wyo- 
ming County  are  Lake  Carey  and  Lake 
Winola.  Winola  is  the  smaller  of  the  pair, 
200  acres,  but  seems  to  hold  a better  pop- 
ulation of  rainbows.  Anglers  fishing  at 
night  with  marshmallow's  suspended  at 
around  15  feet  can  fill  a stringer  when  the 
rainbows  are  obliging. 

Both  lakes  hold  bass,  walleye  and  pan- 
fish, and  many  anglers  have  had  success 
fishing  for  pickerel  with  live  bait  on  262- 
acre  Lake  Carey. 

Follow'  Route  29  north  from  Tunkhan- 
nock  to  reach  Lake  Carey;  take  Route  307 
to  the  village  of  Winola  to  find  the  lake’s 
namesake. 

Farther  south,  in  Carbon  County,  the 
947-acre  Beltzville  Dam  along  Route  209 
hosts  a fine  population  of  big  bass,  wall- 
eye and  tiger  muskies.  Anglers  interested 
in  catching  some  tasty  table  fare  jig  for 
yellow'  perch  and  crappies  with  tiny  white 
Twister  Tail  grubs  on  this  waterway. 

In  the  last  few  years  Mauch  Chunk 


Is  the  Ice  Safe? 

Even  though  you  may  be  aaxious  to 
enjoy  ice  fishing  this  season,  especially 
after  such  a long,  hot,  dry  summer  (re- 
member?), beware!  Ice  can  be  danger- 
ous. Here  are  some  hints  on 
determining  ice  safety. 

• Lakes  rarely  freeze  uniformly.  Early 
and  late  in  the  season,  ice  that’s  safe  in 
the  morning  may  be  dangerous  by  late 
afternoon. 

• Prolonged  frigid  weather  makes 
safe,  thick  ice.  Use  an  auger  to  test  ice. 
Four  inches  of  clear  blue  ice  is  proba- 
bly safe  for  lone  anglers  and  small 
groups  of  fishermen. 

• Single,  unbroken  pressure  cracks  are 
in  the  ice  probably  safe  to  cross,  but 
stay  away  from  the  areas  where  cracks 
meet  or  intersect. 

• Be  wary  where  water  levels  vary — 
rivers,  streams,  inlets,  outlets,  coves, 
eddies  and  springs.  Moving  water 
erodes  ice  from  beneath,  as  does  wind 
pushing  water  under  ice. 

• Avoid  areas  with  stick  ups.  Protrud- 
ing logs,  brush,  plants  and  docks  ab- 
sorb heat  from  the  sun,  thus  weakening 
surrounding  ice. 

• Dark  areas  of  ice  may  reveal  places 
where  ice  is  thin.  Avoid  these  spots. 


Lake,  located  west  of  Jim  Thorpe,  has  be- 
come a northeastern  hotspot  for  walleye. 
The  marble-eyes  respond  well  to  Swedish 
Pimples  with  mealworms  added  for  taste, 
and  live  bait  jigged  off  the  bottom. 

The  330-acre  Fish  Commission-owned 
lake  also  holds  largemouth  bass,  pickerel 
and  tiger  muskellunge. 

In  Monroe  County,  ice  fishermen  turn 
to  Brady’s  Lake  for  their  out-back  angling 
adventures.  The  229-acre  lake,  located  off 
route  940  east  of  Blakeslee,  holds  pan  fish, 
bass,  pickerel  and  muskies.  The  long  ac- 
cess road  is  paved,  but  in  winter  it  is  not 
plowed.  After  the  first  snowstorm  of  the 
season,  four-wheel-drive  vehicles  are 
needed  to  get  to  the  water. 

Gouldsboro  Lake,  on  Route  507,  offers 
250  acres  of  prime  bass,  pickerel  and  yel- 
low perch  fishing,  and  its  neighbor,  Toby- 
hanna  Lake,  a 170-acre  waterway  in 
Tobyhanna  State  Park,  has  a good  popu- 
lation of  pan  fish,  pickerel  and  bass.  Toby- 
hanna Lake  is  located  east  of  the  village  of 
Tobyhanna  off  Route  423. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


19 


Hard-Water  Hotspots 


11.  Gouldsboro  Lake 

12.  Tobyhanna  Lake 

13.  Lake  Wallenpaupack 

14.  Upper  Woods  Pond 

15.  Prompton  Reservoir 

5.  Francis  E.  Walter  Dam  16.  Duck  Harbor  Pond 


1.  Harvey  s Lake 


6.  Lake  Carey 


2.  Francis  Slocum  State  Park  Lake  7.  Lake  Winola 


3.  Moon  Lake 

4.  Lake  Jean 


8.  Beltzville  Dam 

9.  Mauch  Chunk  Lake 
10.  Brady’s  Lake 


17.  White  Oak  Pond 

18.  Shohola  Lake 

19.  Bruce  Lake 

20.  Egypt  Meadow  Lake 

21.  Peck’s  Pond 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


For  pickerel  enthusiasts, 
Wayne  County’s  White 
Oak  Pond  is  a dream 
come  true.  It  was  once 
used  by  the  Commission 
as  a pickerel  hatchery. 

On  the  border 

The  two  counties  that  constitute  the 
eastern  border  of  northeastern  Pennsylva- 
nia harbor  many  waterways  that  attract  ice 
anglers  from  across  the  Commonwealth. 
The  largest,  Lake  Wallen paupack,  has  53 
miles  of  shoreline. 

The  ‘Paupack  is  a 5,700-acre  lake  lo- 
cated on  the  Pike  and  Wayne  County  line. 
The  Fish  Commission  has  an  access  area 
off  Route  590  near  the  breast  of  the  dam 
at  Route  6,  though  there  are  plenty 
of  other  areas  accessible  to  the  public 
along  this  gem  of  northeastern  Pennsylva- 
nia waterways. 

Lake  Wallenpaupack  is  big  enough  and 
deep  enough  to  produce  state-record  fish. 
Kevin  Coutts,  of  the  town  of  Paupack, 
proved  that  last  April  when  he  landed  a 
17.07-pound  brown  trout  while  fishing  in 
the  lake.  His  fish  was  more  than  two 
pounds  heavier  than  the  previous  record 
brown  trout,  which  had  been  on  the  books 
since  1977. 

In  Wayne  County,  Upper  Woods  Pond 
provides  anglers  with  the  opportunity  to 
catch  nice  trout  and  kokanee  salmon.  The 
use  of  live  fish  for  bait  on  this  80-acre  lake 
is  prohibited,  but  anglers  have  success  fish- 
ing jigs  and  corn  very  deep.  Take  Route 
371  at  Cold  Springs  to  reach  the  lake. 

Prompton  Reservoir,  west  of  Honesdale 
on  Route  6,  offers  280  acres  of  excellent 
bass,  panfish,  pickerel  and  walleye  fishing. 
Ice  anglers  have  successfully  taken  large 
walleye  from  the  dam  with  a small  red 
marabou  jig  fished  off  the  bottom.  Red  or 
fluorescent  orange  teardrop  jigs  spiced 
with  grubs  are  also  productive. 

There  is  a superlative  population  of 
crappies  in  Prompton.  White  jigs,  with  a 
bit  of  white  calf  tail  added  with  red  tying 
thread,  can  fill  a creel  with  crappies  when 
the  fish  are  on  the  feed. 

Duck  Harbor  Pond,  15  miles  north  of 
Honesdale  on  Route  101,  is  another 
Wayne  County  waterway  offering  excellent 
ice  fishing.  The  228-acre  lake  holds  trout, 


bass,  pickerel  and  more  yellow  perch  than 
any  one  angler  could  catch  in  a lifetime. 

For  pickerel  aficionados,  Wayne  Coun- 
ty’s White  Oak  Pond  is  a dream  come 
true.  The  175-acre  waterway,  located  about 
a mile  west  of  Aldenville  off  Route  170, 
was  once  used  by  the  Fish  Commission  as 
a pickerel  hatchery,  and  the  feisty  saber- 
tooths continue  to  thrive  along  with  a nice 
population  of  bass.  The  pond  is  relatively 
shallow,  and  live  minnows  are  the  accepted 
winter  bait. 

Pike  County  picks 

Pike  County  is  typical  Pocono  Moun- 
tain country,  with  lots  of  shallow,  weedy 
waterways  surrounded  by  thickly  wooded 
mountains.  Almost  all  the  lakes  and 
ponds  have  good  fishing. 

Shohola  Lake,  13  miles  west  of  Milford 
on  Route  6,  is  a 1 , 100-acre  impoundment 
filled  with  crappies,  perch,  pickerel  and 
bass.  The  state-record  pickerel,  an  8- 
pound,  31  '/2-inch  monster  caught  by 
Frank  Streznectcky  of  Scranton,  was 
pulled  from  the  lake  in  1937. 

The  lake  is  shallow,  but  fish  congregate 
in  the  deep  channel  that  twists  through  the 
waterway.  Probe  the  lake  with  depth  find- 
ers to  locate  the  deep  holes,  then  fish  for  a 
trophy  with  live  minnows. 

Bruce  Lake  and  Egypt  Meadow  Lake, 
in  Promised  Land  State  Park,  contain 
bass,  walleye,  pickerel,  panfish  and  mus- 
kies.  Both  are  small.  Bruce  Lake  is  51 
acres  and  Egypt  Meadows  is  60  acres,  but 
both  hold  plenty  of  fish.  Ice  fishermen 
who  undertake  the  three-mile  trek  (there  is 
no  access  road)  to  Bruce  Lake  can  expect 
excellent  fishing  in  an  isolated  wilderness 
environment. 

Peck’s  Pond  is  a Pocono  Mountain  hot- 
spot for  panfish.  Located  south  of  Route 
6 along  Route  402,  the  300-acre  waterway 
also  has  good  pickerel  and  bass  fishing. 
Like  most  Pocono  ponds,  live  bait  is  al- 
ways productive,  but  a colorful  jig  with  a 
waterworm  added  to  the  hook  can  guaran- 
tee plenty  of  panfish  action. 

Undoubtedly,  there  are  more  productive 
lakes  and  ponds  hidden  away  in  remote 
sections  of  northeastern  Pennsylvania. 
Pennsylvania  ice  anglers  anticipate  fishing 
these  waterways  like  fly  fishermen  antici- 
pate April’s  gentle  reprieve.  That  is  part  of 
the  beauty  and  mystique  of  ice  fishing  in 
the  northeastern  corner  of  the  Keystone 
State. 

Wait  for  safe  ice,  load  gear  onto  sleds  or 
into  five-gallon  buckets  and  head  out  on 
the  hard  water.  Any  hard  water.  You  are 
bound  to  catch  fish!  r^i 


Baits 

Ice  anglers  usually  choose  between 
three  different  types  of  bait  when  fish- 
ing in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the 
Commonwealth:  lures,  minnows  and 
insect  baits. 

Lures  such  as  plastic  grubs,  brightly 
colored  jigs  and  small  Swedish  Pimples 
can  fill  a creel  with  fish.  Begin  by 
working  the  lure  off  the  bottom.  If 
there  is  no  action,  bring  it  up  12-18 
inches.  Continue  working  the  lure,  and 
make  sure  to  impart  a lot  of  action. 
Keep  working  the  lure  and  raising  it  un- 
til you  find  the  depth  at  which  the  fish 
are  suspended. 

Small  to  medium  minnows  are 
known  to  attract  larger  gamefish.  Wall- 
eye, pickerel,  bass  and  trout  have  a 
hard  time  refusing  the  free-swimming 
morsels.  If  your  live  bait  fails  to  coop- 
erate and  swims  to  the  surface  of  the 
water  beneath  the  ice,  try  adding  small 
splitshot  until  the  minnow  sinks  deep. 
The  trick  is  to  use  just  enough  weight 
to  sink  the  bait,  but  not  enough  to  pre- 
vent it  from  swimming  about  and  at- 
tracting attention. 

Insect  baits  are  probably  the  best  for 
catching  panfish  and  tasty  yellow 
perch.  Mealworms,  wood  borers,  mag- 
gots and  waterworms  account  for  the 
majority  of  pan-sized  delicacies  caught 
in  the  Commonwealth.  Bait  stores  can 
usually  accommodate  your  needs.  If 
not,  anglers  can  sometimes  find  insect 
baits  in  a field  with  a bit  of  careful 
sleuthing. 

Mealworms,  the  larvae  of  mealworm 
beetles,  can  be  found  under  sacks  of 
moist  grain  in  feed  stores,  barns  and 
chicken  coops.  Maggots  are  the  larvae 
of  flies  and  are  easily  found  in  chunks 
of  decaying  meat.  They  can  also  be  lo- 
cated inside  the  balls — or  galls— that 
form  on  the  stems  of  goldenrod  plants. 

Waterworms  are  the  larvae  of  crane 
flies.  Search  for  them  in  the  rotting 
leaves  beneath  shallow,  stagnant  water. 
Wood  borers  are  perhaps  the  easiest  in- 
sect bait  to  find.  They  live  in  rotting 
stumps  and  downed  timber.  Enterpris- 
ing ice  anglers  gather  w'ood  borers  in 
mild  weather.  Then  they  store  them  in  a 
jar  with  chunks  of  rotting  wood  until  it 
is  time  to  introduce  them  to  a tiny  fluo- 
rescent jig  and  begin  catching  the  many 
species  of  fish  that  inhabit  Keystone 
State  waterways. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


River 


‘Walleye 

in  Winter'1* 


by  Mike  Bleech 

Several  fishing  pals  and  1 concentrate  on 
walleye  during  the  late  fall  and  winter 
months.  There  are  some  distinct  advan- 
tages to  walleye  fishing  at  this  time  of  the 
year,  not  the  least  of  which  is  that  this  is 
the  best  time  to  catch  big  walleye  in  Penn- 
sylvania. My  favorite  places  to  play  this 
game  are  in  the  rivers  and  larger  creeks 
that  are  free  of  ice,  at  least  part  of  the 
time — waters  such  as  the  Allegheny  River, 
French  Creek,  the  Susquehanna  River  and 
some  of  its  branches,  or  some  of  the  larger 
waters  in  the  Delaware  River  watershed. 
They  are  all  over  the  state,  yet  the  winter 
walleye  fishing  is  almost  completely  over- 
looked in  many  areas. 

Once  you  find  winter  walleye  in  a river, 
you  have  them  for  the  rest  of  the  winter, 
unless  something  drastic  happens.  1 have 
seen  several  occasions  when  the  walleye 
were  wiped  out  of  a winter  hole  by  an- 
glers. This  is  the  reason  winter  walleye  an- 
glers tend  to  be  so  secretive,  and  the 
reason  word  about  this  fishing  spreads 
slowly. 

Changes  in  river  How  can  also  spoil  a 
winter  walleye  honey  hole.  But  the  walleye 
usually  do  not  move  far,  and  higher  Hows 
usually  congregate  walleye  more  than 
lower  Hows.  The  congregating  of  walleye 
during  winter  is  one  of  the  reasons  this 
fishing  can  be  good,  so  high  water  is  not 
necessarily  bad  news  for  experienced  an- 
glers. 

Timing 

Like  any  kind  of  fishing,  the  combina- 
tion to  unlocking  success  is  knowing 
when,  where  and  how.  We  have  already 
discussed  when — late  fall  and  winter.  It  be- 
gins around  Thanksgiving,  maybe  not 
until  Christmas  in  the  south.  It  con- 
tinues until  the  walleye  season  closes,  in 
mid-March. 

Short-term  timing  can  also  be  impor- 
tant. A winter  walleye  angler  who  is  really 
on  the  fish  can  accurately  guess  when  the 


walleye  will  be  active.  During  the  years 
that  I fished  for  walleye  at  the  Kinzua 
Dam  tailwaters  at  least  a half-dozen  times 
a week  through  the  peak  of  the  walleye 
fishing,  I felt  I could  guess  when  the  wall- 
eye would  turn  on  within  15  minutes  either 
way.  I was  seldom  wrong. 

There  are  nighttime  walleye  holes  and 
daytime  walleye  holes.  I thought  this  had  a 
lot  to  do  with  water  depth  and  clarity,  un- 
til just  a few  winters  ago.  My  friend  Jim 
Reitz  found  a great  concentration  of  wall- 
eye in  a large  pool  in  the  middle  Alle- 
gheny. For  an  exciting  three  years  we  had 
that  fishing  all  to  ourselves.  It  was  all  day- 
time fishing. 

We  caught  walleye  from  clear  water  as 
shallow  as  7 feet,  under  a midday  sun  and 
blue  sky.  I caught  my  largest  walleye  while 
fishing  in  this  place  under  exactly  these 
conditions,  in  water  about  10  feet  deep.  I 
could  see  my  jig  when  I lifted  it  a foot  or 
two  off  the  bottom. 

Locating  walleye 

Still,  I don’t  like  to  fish  for  winter  wall- 
eye anywhere  I can  see  the  bottom.  The 
point  here  it  not  where,  but  when.  The 
walleye  are  not  always  in  a feeding  mood. 
To  catch  them  you  must  fish  for  them 
when  they  are  in  a feeding  mood.  When 
you  are  searching  for  walleye,  never  as- 
sume that  not  catching  walleye  proves  that 
none  were  in  the  place  you  fished! 

The  “where”  aspect  of  the  combination 
is  the  most  difficult  part,  largely  because 
of  timing.  You  win  the  game  with  a bit  of 
luck  and  by  concentrating  your  search  ef- 
forts in  high-potential  areas.  When  the 
walleye  turn  on,  you  want  to  be  fishing  in 
water  you  believe  holds  walleye. 

Walleye  do  not  like  to  fight  the  current 
when  the  water  is  cold.  Walleye  are  cold- 
blooded creatures,  so  their  metabolism 
slows  as  temperatures  drop.  While  they  are 
active  during  winter,  they  move  more 
slowly  than  during  other  seasons.  This  is  a 


most  useful  piece  of  information  for  wall- 
eye anglers. 

Slow  water 

The  search  for  winter  walleye  begins  in 
relatively  slow  water.  Walleye  usually  are 
not  in  heavy  current  when  the  water  tem- 
perature drops  below  50  degrees.  They 
might  be  very  close  to  heavy  current,  if 
that  is  where  the  food  is.  But  instead  of 
foraging  in  the  heavy  current  as  they  might 
in  warmer  water,  they  wait  in  ambush  in 
calm  pockets  where  the  current  might 
wash  food  items. 

Some  typical  areas  that  hold  walleye  are 
where  the  current  is  broken  by  bridges, 
points,  large  rocks,  boulders  or  fallen 
trees.  These  areas  can  be  productive  any- 
where, mostly  in  the  smaller  walleye 
streams,  but  also  in  large  creeks  and  river 
headwaters. 

Most  walleye  creeks  and  rivers  in  Penn- 
sylvania are  successions  of  rapids  and 
pools,  and  are  partly  rock-bottomed.  The 
rapids  vary  from  the  class  IV  whitewater 
of  the  Yough  to  friendly  riffles  on  the  Ju- 
niata. The  pools  vary  from  deep  gravel- 
dredged  pools  on  the  Allegheny  to 
boulder-studded  pools  in  the  Susque- 
hanna. During  winter,  walleye  are  in  the 
pools.  This  cuts  out  a lot  of  looking  in 
some  streams,  less  in  others. 

Depth 

Depth  is  another  important  factor  in 
looking  for  good  winter  walleye  water. 
While  I have  caught  walleye  in  quite  shal- 
low water  during  winter,  mostly  at  night,  I 
do  not  know  of  any  good  walleye  pools 
that  do  not  have  at  least  some  deep  water. 
“Deep”  is  relative  to  what  is  available  in 
each  stream,  to  water  clarity,  and  to  cover 
such  as  logs  or  boulders. 

As  a general  guideline,  1 suggest  8 feet 
as  a minimum  depth  for  good  walleye 
holding  water.  In  some  streams  where 
there  isn’t  much  water  this  deep,  log  jams 
can  play  a very  important  part  in  walleye 
location.  In  very  clear  streams,  the  mini- 
mum depth  might  be  more  like  12  feet.  In 
water  that  is  consistently  stained,  there 
might  be  big  walleye  holding  in  pools  that 
get  no  deeper  than  5 feet. 

Depth  can  be  the  key  in  walleye  location 
in  some  streams  where  there  isn’t  much 
deep  water.  If  there  were  just  one  pool 
with  relatively  calm  water  deeper  than  8 
feet  in  a section  of  creek,  I would  expect 
the  best  fishing  for  big  walleye  in  that 
stretch  to  be  in  that  relatively  deep  area. 

The  best  way  to  locate  these  deep  holes 
is  to  float  the  creek  when  the  flow  is  low, 


22  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Ken  Hunter 


during  summertime,  when  the  water  is  as 
clear  as  it  gets.  You  will  be  able  to  see  the 
bottom  in  most  places,  thus  eliminating 
that  water.  Draw  detailed  maps  of  the 
pools  you  want  to  fish  during  winter. 

Bottom  content  doesn’t  seem  to  make 
much  difference  to  the  walleye.  1 have 
caught  them  over  rock,  gravel,  clay  and 
mud. 

Finding  walleye  in  large,  slowly  moving 
river  pools  can  be  difficult.  They  can  be 
just  about  anywhere  in  places  like  these.  I 
have  fished  the  big  Allegheny  River  pool 
at  Tionesta,  for  example,  and  caught  wall- 
eye all  over  the  pool  with  no  pattern  that  I 
could  see  to  their  location. 

On  the  other  hand,  underwater  humps 
in  these  big  pools  are  often  walleye  mag- 
nets. At  a few  of  the  best  humps  I have 
fished  there  are  usually  a few  walleye,  at 
least,  nearby.  At  the  best  times,  schools  of 
aggressive  walleye  move  right  on  top  of  the 
humps.  This  is  a feeding-related  situation. 
In  each  such  case,  when  I have  checked 
out  the  area  with  my  fishfinder,  I found 
numerous  baitfish.  The  walleye  are  very 
catchable.  The  best  walleye  honey  holes  I 
have  found  in  recent  years  fit  this  category. 

Baitfish 

I find  it  interesting  that  the  type  of  bait- 
fish the  walleye  feed  on  at  each  of  my  reg- 
ular honey  holes  can  be  predicted.  Take  a 
few  places  on  the  Allegheny  River,  for  ex- 
ample. They  are  about  20  miles  apart.  At 
one  place,  a big  hump  that  rises  from  a 
depth  of  30  feet  to  as  shallow  as  7 feet,  all 
the  walleye  I catch  there  have  darters  and 
shiners  in  their  stomachs.  At  the  other 
hump,  a smaller  one  that  rises  from  20 
feet  to  10  feet,  the  walleye  have  usually 
been  eating  white  bass  and  shiners. 

Note  that  shiners  turned  up  in  both  the 
examples.  If  I had  my  druthers,  I would 
have  shiners  in  my  bait  bucket  each  time  I 
fished  for  walleye  during  winter. 

The  simplest  way  to  catch  walleye  dur- 
ing winter  is  with  live  minnows.  It  is  im- 
portant to  have  good  minnows.  They  need 
not  be  shiners,  but  not  just  any  minnow 
will  do.  Dace,  for  example,  have  proven  to 
be  poor  walleye  bait. 

My  first  choice  is  either  emerald  shiners 
or  spottail  shiners.  Common  shiners  are 
fine.  Golden  shiners,  which  are  available 
at  many  bait  shops,  are  adequate.  Suckers 
are  fine.  Fatheads  are  usually  too  small. 
I like  minnows  that  are  4 inches  to  6 
inches  long. 

Buy  lively  minnows.  Keep  any  diseased 
minnows  out  of  your  bait  bucket. 

Bait  is  relatively  easy  to  keep  during 


Some  typical  areas  that  hold  walleye  are  where  the 
current  is  broken  by  bridges,  points,  large  rocks, 
boulders  or  fallen  trees.  These  areas  can  be 
productive  anywhere,  mostly  in  the  smaller  walleye 
streams,  but  also  in  large  creeks  and  river  headwaters. 

December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  23 


winter.  I use  a cooler  to  store  minnows  on 
my  patio,  where  it  is  cold  but  where  the 
water  seldom  freezes.  I use  an  aquarium- 
style  aerator,  which  is  placed  in  a drawer 
inside  the  cooler.  With  the  lid  closed,  the 
heat  from  the  aerator  is  enough  to  keep 
the  water  from  freezing  on  all  but  those 
20-below  nights.  Even  then  the  ice  never 
gets  too  thick  overnight  for  me  to  break  it 
out  with  my  hands.  Drop  a pinch  of  salt 
in  the  water  to  help  keep  the  minnows  free 
of  parasites,  and  change  the  water  often. 

Rigs 

There  is  no  need  to  get  fancy  with  the 
way  you  rig  your  minnows.  As  a matter  of 
fact,  simple  is  best.  Extra  junk  just  alerts 
the  walleye  that  something  is  amiss.  My 
standard  winter  walleye  rig  consists  of  a 
hook  and  a splitshot.  Occasionally  I use  a 
spinner  blade  or  a blob  of  color  to  get  the 
walleye’s  attention. 

The  style  of  hook  is  also  important.  I 
use  hooks  with  relatively  wide  gaps  and 
short  shanks,  based  on  my  experience  that 
hook-setting  efficiency  is  best  with  such 
hooks.  Examples  are  the  Eagle  Claw  42 
and  the  Mustad  37140. 

Even  more  important  than  the  style  of 
the  hook,  though,  is  the  point.  It  must  be 
sharp.  I file  all  my  hooks  before  they  go 
into  the  tackle  box.  I carry  a good  hook 
file  in  my  gear  bag  to  touch  up  hooks 
while  using  them.  At  fishing  seminars  I tell 
anglers  that  they  will  probably  double  the 
number  of  fish  they  catch  if  they  properly 
sharpen  their  hooks. 

The  second  part  of  my  basic  terminal 
rig  is  a splitshot.  Why  a splitshot?  Because 
it’s  quick.  When  the  fish  are  hitting  or 
when  my  hands  are  wet  and  cold,  I do  not 
want  to  waste  any  more  time  than  nec- 
essary retying  my  rig.  It  is  a fact  of 
walleye  fishing  that  anglers  lose  rigs  to 
the  bottom. 

Splitshot  comes  in  a broad  enough  size 
range  to  suit  most  winter  fishing  situa- 
tions. The  only  reason  for  needing  more 
weight  than  a couple  of  those  jumbo  shot 
that  are  about  the  size  of  the  end  of  your 
little  finger  is  that  you  are  moving  too  fast. 
Most  of  the  good  wintertime  walleye  an- 
glers 1 know  use  as  little  weight  as  they  can 
get  away  with. 

There  are  at  least  a few  good  reasons 
for  this.  One  is  that  it  forces  you  to  move 
the  bait  slowly,  to  keep  it  near  the  bottom. 
Another  reason  is  that  the  walleye  seem  to 
prefer  the  more  delicate  presentation  of 
light  weight,  versus  the  fast  drops  of  heavy 
weight.  These  are  fine  points  that  become 
important  as  a walleye  angler  becomes  in- 

24  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mike  Bleech 


Mike  Bleech 


River  walleye  fishing  in  winter  means 
dressing  for  the  occasion.  Pennsylvania 
angler  Jim  Reitz  (left  and  above)  has 
adequately  protected  himself  from 
wetness  and  cold. 


creasingly  involved  in  this  game. 

This  simple  rig  can  be  adapted  to  most 
wintertime  river  walleye  fishing  situations. 
It  can  be  trolled  slowly  by  electric  motor 
to  locate  the  walleye.  It  can  be  fished  verti- 
cally while  stillfishing  over  walleye  that 
have  been  located,  or  w'hile  drifting.  It  can 
be  cast  and  retrieved.  It  is  fine  from  boat 
or  from  shore.  Other  methods  might  be 
good,  or  even  better  in  certain  situations. 
But  a hook  and  splitshot  are  at  least  good 
most  all  the  time. 

Blob  of  color 

The  blob  of  color  I referred  to  can  be  a 
fake  salmon  egg  or  just  a chunk  of  plastic 
worm.  My  most  productive  colors  in 
Pennsylvania  waters  are  chartreuse  and  or- 
ange. The  blob  is  threaded  onto  the  line 
by  inserting  the  hook  through  it.  When 
the  minnow  is  hooked  through  both  lips 
beginning  at  the  bottom,  the  blob  is  slid 
over  the  exposed  part  of  the  hook. 


r/j 

JY4 


In  murky  water  I sometimes  add  a Col- 
orado spinner  blade  onto  the  line,  with  a 
few  small  colored  beads  to  separate  the 
blade  from  the  hook.  More  important  in 
murky  water,  though,  is  to  keep  a lively 
bait  on  the  hook.  Walleye  do  not  have  to 
see  that  minnow  to  find  it.  They  can  sense 
its  movements. 

Walleye  can  smell  and  taste  foul  sub- 
stances on  the  bait  or  on  your  rig.  Several 
years  ago  I discovered  a small  creek  that 
supplied  me  with  all  the  bait  minnow's  I 
could  possibly  need,  and  at  any  time  of 
the  year.  The  only  problem  was  that,  I 
soon  discovered,  I could  not  catch  any  fish 
with  those  minnow's. 

“They  taste  funny,”  my  pal  Jim  Reitz 
suggested. 

I didn’t  know  if  he  was  serious,  but  the 
more  I thought  about  it,  the  more  reason- 
able it  sounded.  So  1 took  a few  dozen  of 
the  choicest  minnows  home,  took  them 
out  of  the  water  in  my  bucket  into  a large 
cooler  containing  river  water.  I held  them 
in  the  cooler  for  a week,  changing  water  a 
few  times.  Then  I took  them  out  for  a day 
of  fishing. 

In  a short  time  I had  a stringer  of 
18-inch  to  24-inch  walleye  and  an  empty 
bait  bucket. 


I am  still  catching  walleye  with  bait 
from  that  small  creek,  after  holding  them 
for  several  days  in  river  water.  I pay  much 
more  attention  to  taste  and  smell  now  than 
before.  I carry  a good  angler’s  soap  in  my 
gear  bag  and  wash  my  hands  before 
fishing— no  matter  how  cold  it  is.  In  the 
process  of  learning  this  I also  learned  how 
nice  it  is  to  have  a towel  along.  Wet  hands 
are  cold  hands. 

Cast-and-retrieve  method 

I use  the  cast-and-retrieve  method  about 
75  percent  of  the  time  for  winter  river 
walleye.  Though  uncomplicated,  this  re- 
quires concentration  and  feel. 

Leave  the  bail  open  when  your  bait  hits 
the  water  at  the  end  of  the  cast.  The  bait 
pulls  line  with  it  as  it  sinks.  You  know 
when  the  bait  reaches  bottom  when  it 
stops  pulling  the  line.  The  bait  is  now  al- 
most directly  beneath  the  point  where  it 
hit  the  surface  of  the  water,  except  for  the 
effects  of  current.  Had  you  closed  the  bail 
of  your  reel,  the  bait  would  have  swung 
toward  you  like  a pendulum  as  it  sank. 

Let  the  bait  rest  on  the  bottom  where  it 
first  hits  for  at  least  a few  seconds,  and 
better  for  a few  minutes.  Walleye  will  grab 
the  bait  as  soon  as  they  get  near  it  when 
they  are  most  aggressive,  but  sometimes 
they  like  to  look  at  it  for  a bit. 

Start  the  retrieve  by  lifting  the  rod  tip 
slowly.  Keep  the  bail  open  while  you  do 
this,  in  case  a walleye  has  already  taken 
your  bait,  or  in  case  a walleye  takes  the 
minnow  while  you  are  moving  it.  In  either 
case,  you  should  immediately  give  the 
walleye  slack  line,  unless  you  have  tugged 
against  the  walleye.  If  you  have  tugged 
with  enough  force  to  alarm  the  walleye, 
your  best  chance  of  hooking  that  fish  is  to 
strike  immediately. 

I like  to  set  the  hook  while  the  walleye  is 
moving  with  the  bait,  preferably  moving 
away.  Do  not  forget  to  close  the  bail  be- 
fore attempting  to  set  the  hook. 

After  moving  the  bait,  let  it  pause  as 
you  did  when  it  first  touched  bottom. 
Continue  this  sequence  until  a walleye 
takes  the  bait,  or  until  the  bait  is  back  to 
shore  or  under  your  boat.  Walleye  often 
follow  a bait,  so  pause  a few  seconds  be- 
fore taking  it  out  of  the  water.  When  fish- 
ing from  a boat,  I like  to  keep  a second 
baited  rig  set  right  under  the  boat.  This 
often  gets  those  walleye  that  follow  the 
other  bait. 

Catching  river  walleye  during  the  winter 
really  isn’t  difficult.  The  hardest  parts  of 
this  game  are  finding  the  walleye  and  en- 
during the  winter  weather.  [p7] 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


25 


by  Ron  Tibbott 

Far  fewer  Pennsylvanians  these  days  are  the  disconsolate  owners 
of  “worthless  swamps.”  No,  this  trend  is  not  entirely  related  to 
the  unfortunate  practice  of  draining  and  Filling  wetlands  for 
financial  gain.  Rather,  merely  by  adjustments  of  the  owners’ 
perceptions  and  priorities,  many  areas  formerly  regarded  only  as 
mosquito  havens  have  been  magically  transformed  into  valuable, 
productive  real  estate.  Largely  responsible  for  these  now-proud 
wetland  owners’  enlightened  attitudes  are  the  public  education 
efforts  of  the  various  environmental  agencies  and  other  groups. 

Swamps  and  bogs  have  traditionally  been  regarded  as  places 
of  darkness,  mystery  and  too  many  bugs — to  be  avoided  at  all 
costs,  or  better  yet,  eliminated.  Wet  spots  in  pastures  or  crop 
fields  were  considered  by  most  everyone  to  be  nothing  but  nui- 
sances to  farmers,  and  millions  of  tax  dollars  have  been  spent 
through  U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture  programs  to  correct 
these  perceived  problems.  Marshes  occupying  tracts  of  otherwise 
developable  land  were  seen  only  as  financial  burdens. 

Alhough  too  much  of  this  negative  thinking  persists,  wetland 
values  and  functions  have  been  clearly  documented,  and  people 
are  finally  realizing  that  those  “darn  old  swamps”  aren’t  so  bad 
after  all. 

Probably  the  most  obvious  importance  of  wetlands  relates  to 
fish  and  wildlife  habitat.  Fish?  Remembering  that  “fish”  is 
broadly  defined  by  the  Fish  and  Boat  Code  to  include  reptiles, 
amphibians  and  aquatic  invertebrates,  even  the  driest  wetlands 
support  fish  of  some  sort  and  may  constitute  seasonally  critical 
habitat. 

Especially  considering  that  many  threatened  and  endangered 
species  require  wetlands  during  at  least  part  of  their  life  cycle,  it’s 
no  wonder  that  the  Fish  Commission  is  committed  to  the  preser- 
vation of  these  areas.  Seemingly  indisputable  evidence  indicates 


that  habitat  destruction  is  mainly  responsible  for  the  near  demise 
of,  for  instance,  bog  turtle  and  Massasaugua  rattlesnake  popula- 
tions within  the  Commonwealth. 

The  other  equally  valuable  functions  of  a wetland  are  not  so 
readily  apparent.  Their  ability  to  retard  flood  flows  is  often 
overlooked,  but  these  systems  do  act  as  huge  sponges  to  absorb 
rainfall  and  temporarily  store  water  to  be  released  over  long 
periods  of  time.  This  gradual  discharge  can  be  critical  in  main- 
taining stream  flow  during  dry  spells. 

Combined  with  this  storage  capability,  the  filtering  and 
biological  processes  of  a wetland  and  its  plant  community  can 
also  provide  downstream  water  quality  benefits  that  include 
reduced  sediment  and  chemical  pollution.  Another  factor 
recognized  by  local  and  regional  planners  concerned  with  future 
water  supply  needs  is  the  groundwater  recharge  attributed  to 
certain  wetland  complexes. 

Wetland  types 

Although  the  Pocono  black  bear  swamps  and  the  waterfowl 
marshes  of  the  northwestern  counties  are  classically  representa- 
tive of  significant  wetlands  in  Pennsylvania,  examples  of  the 
various  types  are  scattered  throughout  the  Commonwealth.  Least 
abundant  are  the  estuarine  systems — important  to  many  resident 
and  anadromous  Fishes — confined  to  tidal  portions  of  the  Dela- 
ware River. 

Other  watery  environs  technically  classified  as  wetlands  in- 
clude streams  and  rivers,  ponds  and  lakes — called  riverine  and 
lacustrine,  respectively. 

Palustrine  wetlands — including  emergent  (cattail  marsh), 
scrub/shrub  (blueberry  bog)  and  forested  (hemlock  swamp) — are 
the  driest  and,  ironically,  the  most  threatened.  From  a Fisheries 
standpoint,  the  most  valuable  wetland  complexes  consist  of  a 


26  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Division  of  Environmental  Services  photo 


mixture  of  the  palustrine  types,  with  an  open-water  component 
thrown  in  for  optimum  habitat  diversity. 

“Dry”  wetlands? 

Palustrine  systems  are  particularly  jeopardized  because  many 
appear  at  least  seasonally  dry.  “That’s  not  a wetland!”  or  “I 
didn’t  know!”  are  commonly  heard  from  potential  or  after-the- 
fact  encroachers.  But  regulatory  definitions  rely  on  the  parame- 
ters of  soil,  vegetation  and  hydrology.  Hydric  (unoxidized)  soils 
indicating  a high  water  table,  a predominance  of  plants  adapted 
to  saturated  soil  conditions  or  evidence  of  periodic  inundation 
can  combine  to  identify  regulated  wetlands.  Despite  their  legal 
classification,  many  of  these  areas  appear  to  the  untrained  eye  to 
be  lands  usable  for  agricultural,  commercial  or  residential  devel- 
opment. 

Because  these  “dry”  wetlands  perform  basically  the  same 
functions  of  a commonly  recognized  swamp,  state  and  federal 
law  not  only  defines  them  but  also  provides  a substantial  degree 
of  protection.  The  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Environmental 
Resources  (DER)  and  the  U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers  (COE) 
have  been  legislatively  delegated  the  responsibilities  of  imple- 
menting current  wetland  protection  mechanisms  on  the  state  and 
federal  levels.  Both  agencies  have  detailed  regulations  to  safe- 
guard the  public  benefits  derived  from  such  areas  by  requiring 
respective  permits  for  nearly  any  activity  potentially 
compromising  a wetland’s  natural  function. 

As  part  of  the  permit  review  process,  the  PFC’s  Division  of 
Environmental  Services,  with  assistance  from  the  Bureau  of  Law 
Enforcement,  provides  guidance  to  the  regulatory  agencies  re- 
garding potential  fisheries  impacts  of  various  proposed  encroach- 
ments. This  input,  along  with  that  of  the  Pennsylvania  Game 
Commission,  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  U.S.  Environmen- 
tal Protection  Agency  and  others,  is  used  by  the  DER  and  COE 
to  determine  whether  permit  issuance  is  in  the  best  public  inter- 
est. The  combined  expertise  of  the  various  agencies  allows  a 
balanced  weighing  of  the  relative  pros  and  cons  of  any  proposed 
project  involving  wetlands. 

In  conjunction  with  its  mandate  to  protect  the  Common- 
wealth’s fisheries  resources,  the  Fish  Commission  strives  to  re- 
solve unpermitted  wetland  encroachment  cases  by  requiring 
restoration  to  pre-project  conditions  along  with  the  monetary 
penalty  specified  by  the  Fish  and  Boat  Code. 

Unfortunately,  some  people  are  learning  the  hard  way  how 
and  why  wetlands  are  protected,  but  public  education  will  hope- 
fully begin  to  lower  violation  statistics.  It  definitely  pays  to 
know! 

Identifying  wetlands 

Layman  wetland  identification  is  often  not  that  difficult. 
Obviously,  if  wet  feet  result  from  a summer  excursion  across  a 
proposed  development  site,  the  area  should  be  suspect.  Vegeta- 
tion is  a good  tip-off,  too.  Cattails,  clumpy  rushes  and  sedges, 
or  really,  any  unusually  thick,  green,  succulent  patch  of  weeds  or 
brush  should  raise  a warning  flag  to  most  people  who  have 
spent  much  time  outdoors. 

When  in  doubt,  a number  of  resource  agency  personnel  may 
be  called  on  to  investigate  possible  conflicts  with  wetland  protec- 
tion guidelines.  County  conservation  district  or  Fish  Commission 
regional  offices  might  be  a good  place  to  start — the  people  there 
can  generally  suggest  whether  further  professional  assistance  is 
appropriate,  and  advise  on  permit  requirements.  Independent 
biological  consultants  are  available  across  the  state,  and  their 


employ  may  be  necessary  to  evaluate  thoroughly  the  potential 
wetland  impact  significance  of  any  proposed  site  modification. 

Protection 

The  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  estimates  that  28,000 
acres,  or  6 percent,  of  Pennsylvania’s  total  wetland  losses  oc- 
curred between  1956  and  1979.  Statistics  reflecting  the  trend 
since  that  time  would  no  doubt  be  equally  staggering.  Regula- 
tory protection  efforts  promulgated  in  the  late  1970s  (and  still 
undergoing  needed  improvement)  have  helped  preserve  remaining 
wetlands. 

Innovative  measures  such  as  the  Farm  Bill  with  its  conserva- 
tion options  are  steps  in  the  right  direction.  Future  legislation 
authorizing  tax  incentives  or  other  financial  encouragement  for 
owners  whose  wetlands  are  providing  such  important  benefits  to 
the  public  in  general  may  become  economically  necessary,  and 
would  be  strongly  supported  by  the  Commission. 

But  legislation  and  regulation  can  only  go  so  far.  The  one 
thing  that  promises  to  save  our  wetland  heritage  is  public  percep- 
tion. A unanimous  understanding  that  we  all  do  need  wetlands 
would  be  great,  but  we’re  also  going  to  have  to  depend  on  the 
Commonwealth’s  landowners  who  are  becoming  increasingly 
cognizant  not  only  of  the  public  benefits  but  moreover  the  per- 
sonal values  to  accrue  from  maintaining  the  integrity  of  their 
wetlands. 

Maybe  potential  uses  include  “only”  blueberry'  picking,  har- 
vesting a fine  meal  of  frog  legs  or  providing  sanctuary  for  a rare 
turtle  or  “the  biggest  buck  I’ve  ever  seen,”  but  an  appreciation 
of  the  intrinsic  values  of  their  wetlands  will  necessarily  be  coinci- 
dent with  protecting  what  we  have  left. 

So  who  wants  a swamp?  The  answer  to  that  question  is  the 
same  as  to  “Who  wants  clean  water?”,  “Who  wants  fish?”, 
and  “Who  wants  flood  control?” — everyone!  I pa ] 


Ron  Tibbott  is  a hydraulic  engineering  technician  in  the  Com- 
mission Division  of  Environmental  Services. 


New  Commission  Wetland  Exhibit 

As  part  of  its  recognition  of  the  importance  of  protecting  wet- 
lands, the  Fish  Commission  is  redesigning  its  visitor  center  at  the 
Pleasant  Gap  Fish  Culture  Station  to  include  a wetland  exhibit 
entitled  “Wetlands:  Natural  and  Necessary.”  The  exhibit  should 
be  completed  by  the  end  of  December  and  will  be  open  for  view- 
ing in  January.  Dedication  is  scheduled  for  early  spring. 

The  exhibit  is  designed  for  school  children,  families  and  individ- 
ual visitors.  It  features  a diorama  of  a wetland,  display  panels  with 
information  and  includes  an  activity  or  two  to  reinforce  learning. 

Adults  and  children  should  enjoy  viewing  this  exhibit.  A take- 
home  brochure  provides  more  information. 

The  exhibit  was  contracted  to  Rose  Boegli,  a freelance  artist 
from  Harrisburg.  A committee  of  experts  from  the  U.S.  Fish  and 
Wildlife  Service,  the  U.S.  Army  Corps  of  Engineers,  the  Wild 
Resource  Conservation  Fund,  the  Game  Commission,  DER  and 
the  Fish  Commission  was  consulted  for  technical  information  on 
the  project.  The  wetland  exhibit  was  funded  in  part  by  the  Wild 
Resource  Conservation  Fund. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


27 


Crappies:  Along  steep  dropoffs  from  shallow  to 
deep  water. 


Bluegills:  Overhanging  limbs  or  where  brush 
touches  or  enters  the  water. 


Finding  Fish  Partii 

Fish  locators  are  a hot-selling  item  today.  They  do 
everything  from  telling  depths  and  showing  structure 
to  pinpointing  fish.  Prices  range  accordingly, 
depending  on  how  much  you  want  to  know  and  the 
way  you  want  it  shown  on  your  locator. 

If  you  are  like  most  kids,  you  can’t  afford  one. 

Here’s  a little  “Fish  Commission-made”  locator  you 
might  want  to  memorize  or  store  in  your  tackle  box  for 
future  trips.  Sometimes  you  will  find  more  than  one 
kind  of  fish  hiding,  feeding  or  resting  in  these  areas. 


Northern  pike:  In  or  near  weed  beds. 


Walleye:  Man-made  structures  such  as  bridge  piers 
or  pilings 


28  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Illustrations  by  Linda  Steiner 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Trailer  wiring 

If  you  own  a new  trailer,  or  if  you’re 
rewiring  your  current  rig,  you  may  wonder 
which  color  wire  lead  from  your  tow  vehi- 
cle gets  connected  to  which  color  trailer 
wire.  Take  heart.  Clear  up  the  confusion 
with  this  information. 


Wiring  harnesses  are  a part  of  tow  vehi- 
cle makers’  trailer-towing  packages.  In 
general,  hook  up  your  trailer  lighting  ac- 
cording to  this  color  coding  from  manu- 
facturers’ wiring  harnesses: 

• White.  Ground  wire. 

• Dark  green.  Right  brake  light,  turn 
signal. 

• Yellow.  Left  brake  light,  turn  signal. 

• Brown.  Running  lights,  taillights. 


• Light  green.  Backup  lights. 

• Red.  Connects  to  starter  solenoid 
only  on  7-wire  harnesses  and  is  used  for 
battery  charging. 

• Blue.  Auxiliary  wiring,  electric  trailer 
brakes. 

Typical  boat  trailers  in  Pennsylvania 
have  a four-pronged  flat  connector.  For 
these  you  need  to  connect  only  the  dark 
green,  yellow,  brown  and  white  wires. 


Anglers 

Notebook 


Beware  of  heavily  dressed  streamers.  When 
they’re  wet  they  often  don’t  slim  down  to  the 
streamlined  look  of  real  minnows.  Consider 
the  tying  materials  because  some  do  thin  out 
in  the  water. 


A Palomar  knot,  useful  for  attaching  lures 
and  hooks  to  line,  retains  nearly  100  percent 
of  the  line  strength.  This  winter  is  a good 
time  to  learn  to  tie  this  knot  if  you  don’t 
already  know  how. 


Check  out  your  fly  rod  now  for  chipped 
varnish,  broken  guides,  worn  windings  and 
loose  ferrules.  Repair  your  rod  now,  before 
the  opening  day  of  next  year’s  trout  season  is 
at  hand. 


Did  you  store  your  boat  trailer  without 
having  the  wheel  bearings  inspected?  Better 
do  that  now  and  have  them  repacked  if 
necessary.  This  best  ensures  a quick  trouble- 
free  start  next  season. 


Spinnerbaits  are  made  with  rubber  hackle 
strands  and  other  materials  for  a good 
reason.  Next  time  you  fish  one,  give  it  a 
twitch.  This  undulates  the  rubber  strands, 
giving  the  lure  a lifelike  appearance.  It  also 
makes  the  spinnerbait  appear  as  if  it’s  an 
injured  baitfish. 


By  now  your  Fishing  license  may  be  stained 
and  wrinkled,  unless  you  took  the  time  to 
laminate  it  when  you  bought  it.  Plastic  lami- 
nates can  be  bought  (several  for  a dollar)  at 
pharmacy  and  discount  stores  and  can  protect 
the  license  from  wear  and  moisture. 

Talcum  powder  or  better  yet,  cornstarch 
sprinkled  inside  waders,  can  help  them  to  slip 
on  and  off  easily. 

Plastic  bread  bags  take  up  little  space  in  a 
pocket  or  tackle  box  and  can  come  in  handy 
when  waders  spring  a leak.  Simply  slip  them 
over  your  socks  and  worry  about  repairing 
them  when  you  get  home. 

Grubs  and  mealworms  for  winter  fishing 
can  be  kept  warm  and  active  by  placing  them 
in  a petri  dish  or  35mm  Film  container  and 
putting  them  in  your  breast  pocket. 

When  Fishing  backwoods  trout  streams, 
wear  camouflage  clothing.  The  trout  are  less 
likely  to  spook  at  the  muted  colors  and 
outline-breaking  patterns. 

Fractures  in  plastic  tackle  boxes,  particu- 
larly in  the  lids  which  take  considerable  abuse, 
can  be  repaired  with  plastic  (PVC)  pipe-joint 
cement. 


illustration  by  Rose  Boegh 


Dedicated  to  the  sound  conservation 
of  our  aquatic  resources,  the  protection 
and  management  of  the  state’s  diversi- 
fied fisheries,  and  to  the  ideals  of  safe 
boating  and  optimum  boating  oppor- 
tunities. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

Edward  R.  Miller,  P.E..  Executive 
Director 

Lawrence  W.  Hoffman,  Executive 
Assistant 

Dennis  T.  Guise.  Chief  Counsel 
Planning  & Environmental  Regulation 
John  Arway,  Division  of 
Environmental  Sen- ices 
Joseph  A.  Greene,  Legislative  Liaison 
Lois  J.  Telep,  Executive  Secretary 

BUREAU  OF 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES 
717-657-4522 

Allison  J.  May  hew,  Director 
Vacant,  Personnel 
Glen  Reed,  Federal  Aid 
Mary  Stine,  Fishing  Licenses 

BUREAU  OF  FISHERIES 
814-359-5100 

Delano  Graff,  Director 
Vincent  Mudrak,  Division  of 
Research 

Richard  A.  Snyder,  Division  of 
Fisheries  Management 
Dennis  Ricker,  Division  of  Trout 
Production 

Shryl  Hood,  Division  of  Warm  water 
Coolwater  Fish  production 

BUREAU  OF  PROPERTY 
AND  FACILITIES 
MANAGEMENT 
814-359-5100 

James  Young,  PE.,  Director 
Vacant,  Division  of  Construction  & 
Maintenance  Services 
K.  Ronald  Weis,  R.A.,  Division  of 
Engineering  & Technical  Sen-ices 
Eugene  O.  Banker,  PE.,  Division  of 
property  Sen-ices 

BUREAU  OF  LAW 
ENFORCEMENT 
717-657-4542 

Edward  W.  Manhart,  Director 

BUREAU  OF  BOATING 
717-6574540 

John  Simmons,  Director 
Virgil  Chambers,  Division  of  Boating 
Safety  <&  Education 
.Andrew  Mutch,  Division  of  Boat 
Registration 

BUREAU  OF  EDU  CATION  & 
INFORMATION 
717-6574518 

Cheryl  k.  Riles,  Director 
Larry  Shaffer,  Publications 
Stephen  B Ulsh,  Education 
C.  Blake  Weirich,  Education 
Dave  Waif,  Media  Relations 
Art  Michaels,  Magazines 
Ted  R.  Vtalke,  Graphic  Design 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  29 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Meet  Larry  Hoffman, 
Commission  Executive 
Assistant 


The  Fish  Commission  welcomes  Larry 
Hoffman,  new  executive  assistant. 

Mr.  Hoffman,  a retired  Army  colonel, 
has  been  with  the  Commission  since  the 
beginning  of  May,  after  serving  30  years  as 
an  airborne  ranger  infantry  officer  in  the 
U.S.  Army. 

He  is  a native  Midwesterner,  born  in 
Michigan,  and  now  resides  in  Newburg, 
PA.  He  completed  ROTC  training  at 
Michigan  State  University  where  he  re- 
ceived his  commission  and  a B.S.  degree 
in  forestry.  He  received  his  MBA  in  public 
administration  from  Shippensburg  Univer- 
sity, and  he  is  a graduate  of  the  U.S. 
Army  War  College,  in  Carlisle. 

Mr.  Hoffman  is  an  outdoorsman  and 
has  lived  in  Alaska  and  Canada  where  he 
had  the  chance  to  experience  a variety  of 
wilderness  opportunities. 

His  hobbies  include  fishing,  hunting, 
parachuting,  and  snow  skiing.  He  and  his 
wife,  Catherine,  have  been  married  for  32 
years.  They  have  four  children— Lance, 
30;  Veronica,  29;  Chris,  24;  and  Roxanne, 
19;  and  two  grandchildren— Jeffrey,  5 and 
Lianne,  2. 

Correspondence  Tip 

If  you  ordered  subscriptions,  publica- 
tions, and  other  items  from  the  Fish  Com- 
mission, and  if  you  need  to  correspond 
with  the  Fish  Commission  about  your  or- 
der, be  sure  to  include  in  your  letter  the  7- 
digit  number  on  the  back  of  your 
cancelled  check.  This  number  appears  di- 
rectly below  the  stamp,  “Pay  to  the  order 
of  the  state  treasurer.” 

30  December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler 


Mon  River  Oil  Spill  Update 

The  largest  inland  oil  spill  in  history  has  stimulated  many  questions  about  the  effects  it 
has  had  on  the  fish  populations  of  the  Monongahela  and  Ohio  rivers.  The  Fish  Commis- 
sion and  the  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Environmental  Resources  (DER)  have  been 
assessing  the  effects  of  the  spill  since  the  day  it  happened — January  2,  1988. Initial  testing 
coordinated  by  the  Ohio  River  Valley  Water  Sanitation  Commission  (ORSANCO)  of  fish 
tissue  samples  revealed  that  certain  components  of  the  spilled  diesel  fuel  were  present  in 
the  flesh  of  certain  fish  species.  However,  public  health  experts  determined  that  these 
compounds  posed  no  threat  to  human  health. 

More  recent  testing  showed  little  remaining  diesel  fuel  compounds  in  fish  from  either 
the  Mon  or  Ohio  rivers.  However,  additional  tests  showed  that  walleye  fillets  collected 
below  Braddock  on  the  Mon  and  Dashields  on  the  Ohio  contained  unsafe  levels  of  chlor- 
dane,  a pesticide,  and  high  levels  of  PCBs.  An  advisory  is  presently  in  place  and  warns 
against  eating  walleye,  channel  catfish  and  carp  downstream  of  Braddock. 

Investigations  are  continuing  to  determine  the  actual  damages  to  the  fish  populations 
themselves.  A survey  of  the  various  lock  chambers  on  the  Mon,  Ohio  and  Allegheny  rivers 
was  completed  last  September  and  results  will  be  compared  to  20  years  of  past  records. 

The  Fish  Commission  and  DER  will  meet  with  Ashland  Oil  Company  in  the  near 
future  to  discuss  appropriate  penalties.—  John  A.  Arway 

Winter  Trout  Stocking 

The  Commission  is  currently  stocking  some  42,900  brook  trout,  5,700  brown  trout 
and  91,950  rainbow  trout  in  about  62  waterways  in  42  Keystone  State  counties.  Here 
is  the  Commission  list  of  waterways  scheduled  to  be  stocked  for  the  1988  winter  trout 
fishing  season. 


County 

Waterway 

Species 

Number 

Allegheny 

North  Park  Lake 

Rainbow 

4,000 

Beaver 

Brady  Run  Lake 

Rainbow 

1,000 

Beaver 

Hereford  Manor  Lk.,  Lwr. 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Beaver 

Hereford  Manor  Lk.,  Upr. 

Rainbow 

1,000 

Beaver 

Raccoon  Lake 

Rainbow 

1,500 

Berks 

Antietam  Lake 

Rainbow 

2,100 

Berks 

Scotts  Run  Lake 

Brown 

1,100 

Blair 

Canoe  Lake 

Rainbow 

4,000 

Bradford 

Mountain  Lake 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Bucks 

Lake  Luxembourg 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Bucks 

Levittown  Lake 

Rainbow 

3,000 

Butler 

Glade  Run  Lake 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Cambria 

Duman  Dam 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Cambria 

Lake  Rowena 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Cameron 

George  B.  Stevenson  Res. 

Rainbow 

4,000 

Clearfield 

Parker  Lake 

Brook 

1,000 

Clinton 

Kettle  Creek  Lake 

Rainbow 

3,900 

Cumberland 

Laurel  Lake 

Rainbow 

1,400 

Cumberland 

Opossum  Creek  Lake 

Rainbow 

3,000 

Elk 

Laurel  Run  Reservoir 

Brook 

500 

Elk 

Ridgway  Reservoir 

Brook 

4,000 

Erie 

Lake  Pleasant 

Rainbow 

4,000 

Fayette 

Dunlap  Creek  Lake 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Fayette 

Virgin  Run  Dam 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Forest 

Wards  Ranch  Pond 

Brook 

500 

Franklin 

Letterkenny  Reservoir 

Rainbow 

2,400 

Fulton 

Cowans  Gap  Lake 

Rainbow 

2,000 

Greene 

Ryerson  Station  Lake 

Rainbow 

1,000 

Huntingdon 

Whipple  Lake 

Brook 

650 

Jefferson 

Cloe  Dam 

Brook 

1,700 

Jefferson 

Cloe  Dam 

Rainbow 

2,300 

7657  4 


Art  Michaels 


ANGLERS  CURRENTS 


Chapman  Lake 
Merli  Sarnoski  Lake 
Bessemer  Lake 
Stovers  Dam 
Leaser  Lake 
Harveys  Lake 
Harveys  Lake 
Irena  Lake 
Sylvan  Lake 
Little  Pine  Lake 
Bradford  Reservoir  #3 
Tobyhanna  Lake 
Minsi  Lake 
Buffalo  Lake,  Little 
Fairview  Lake 
Fairview  Lake 
Lyman  Lake 
Locust  Lake 
Laurel  Hill  Lake 
Laurel  Hill  Lake 
Quaker  Lake 
Tingley  Lake 
Beechwood  Lake 
Lake  Hamilton 
Chapman  Lake 
Canonsburg  Lake 
Dutch  Fork  Lake 
Duck  Harbor  Pond 
Duck  Harbor  Pond 
Long  Pond 
Upper  Woods  Pond 
Donegal  Lake 
Keystone  Lake 
Twin  Lake,  Lower 
Twin  Lake,  Upper 
Carey  Lake 
Lake  Winola 
Hanover  Water  Co.  Dam 


Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Brown 

Rainbow 

Brown 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Brown 

Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Rainbow 

Brook 

Brook 

Rainbow 


2,000 

2,000 

2,000 

2,000 

3.000 

3.500 

4.000 

2.000 
2,000 
2,100 

600 

2,000 

2,000 

3.000 

1.000 
1,000 
2,200 
2,000 
1,350 

650 

2,000 

1,200 

1,000 

1,700 

4.000 

1.500 

1.500 

1.000 
1,600 
2,200 
2,200 
2,200 

2.500 
2,000 
2,000 
2,000 
2,000 

1.500 


Resource  First 
“Best  Graphics” 

At  left  the  Fish  Commission  recently  won 
a first  place  for  “ Best  Graphics”  in  the 
Izaak  Walton  League’s  National  Outdoor 
Ethics  Communications  Award 
competition.  The  award  recognized  the 
Commission’s  “ Resource  First”  logo  and 
poster,  which  were  designed  by  Ted 
Walke  (left),  graphic  designer /illustrator 


RESOURCE 

FIRST 


for  the  Commission.  The  “ Resource 
First”  concept  was  the  brainchild  of 
Dave  Wolf  Commission  media 
coordinator.  The  photo  on  the  poster  was 
taken  by  Russ  Gettig,  retired  Commission 
photographer.  ‘‘Resource  First” 
emphasizes  taking  care  of  the  resource 
and  encourages  good  outdoor  ethics. 


Waterway  Marking  System 

Pennsylvania  waterways  are  marked  by 
navigational  aids  similar  to  traffic  signs. 
They  help  guide  boaters  on  bodies  of  wa- 
ter by  warning  them  of  danger,  guiding 
boats  from  place  to  place  and  pointing  out 
special  marine  situations. 

Navigational  aids  in  Pennsylvania  are 
installed  and  maintained  by  the  Fish  Com- 
mission, dubs,  individuals,  municipalities 
and  other  groups.  They  may  be  lighted  or 
unlighted  and  size,  shape  and  color  are 
important.  Boaters  should  know  what  the 
different  types  of  buoys  represent. 

The  most  common  types  of  aids  on  in- 
land waters  are  the  Uniform  State  Water- 
way Marking  System  buoys.  Inland  buoys 
are  usually  white  with  orange  markings. 
Shapes  on  these  buoys  are  very  important. 
A diamond  with  a cross  means  “boats 
keep  out.”  A diamond  means  “danger.” 
A circle  indicates  a controlled  area.  A 
square  means  that  the  buoy  contains  vital 
information. 

Channel  buoys  are  red,  black  or  green. 
Red  buoys  mark  the  right  side  of  the  chan- 
nel when  returning  to  port  or  going  up- 
stream. Black  or  green  buoys  mark  the 
opposite  side. 

Because  aids  and  markers  can  be  swept 
away,  shifted,  sunk,  tampered  with  or  oth- 
erwise inoperative,  boaters  should  not  rely 
solely  on  navigational  aids,  but  should 
also  know  the  waters  they  plan  to  boat. 


December  1988  Pennsylvania  Angler  31 


Lackawanna 

Lackawanna 

Lawrence 

Lebanon 

Lehigh 

Luzerne 

Luzerne 

Luzerne 

Luzerne 

Lycoming 

McKean 

Monroe 

Northampton 

Perry 

Pike 

Pike 

Potter 

Schuylkill 

Somerset 

Somerset 

Susquehanna 

Susquehanna 

Tioga 

Tioga 

Warren 

Washington 

Washington 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Wayne 

Westmoreland 

Westmoreland 

Westmoreland 

Westmoreland 

Wyoming 

Wyoming 

York 


Kate’s  First  Fish  by  Cheryl  Riley 


F:  / 

•‘-J 

Remember  those  lazy,  hazy  hot  summer  days  when 
you  longed  for  something  new  and  exciting  to  break 
the  monotony?  The  excitement  of  school  being  out 
was  over,  swimming  and  riding  bikes  was  hohum. 
What  to  do  new  and  different?  Fishing?  With 
worms?  Yuk!  Well,  maybe.  One  little  girl,  Kate,  will 
never  forget  her  first  fishing  trip. 

Behold  the  fishermen!  Here  we  come— rod  in 
hand,  worms,  too,  and  a cooler  with  apple  juice. 

Do  1 really  have  to  touch  that  worm?  It’s  really 
dirty.  It  won’t  hold  still.  There — will  that  stay  on? 

Now  how  do  I get  that  bobber  and  hook  out 
there?  Oops,  that  didn’t  go  far,  did  it?  Yes,  I’d  like 
some  help,  please.  Oh,  that’s  how  you  do  it! 

Wait!  What’s  that  tug?  Oh,  no — could  it  be — 
YES!  I have  a fish — my  first!  Oh,  wow!  It  sure  isn’t 
very  big,  but  it’s  pretty.  Hmm,  what  kind,  I wonder. 
A bluegill — I can  tell  by  the  blue  spot?  I see.  What 
nice  colors. 

1 think  I’ll  put  him — or  maybe  her — back.  The 
hook’s  out.  There  you  go.  Swim  away  fast. 

That  spot  across  the  pond  looks  good.  I’ll  fish 
there  for  a while.  This  casting  is  fun.  I’ll  try  a side- 
arm.  I like  to  reel  it  in  ever  so  slowly. 

Oh,  I think — yes,  I have  another  one.  Aren’t  I 
good?  Wonder  why  the  adults  aren’t  catching  any- 
thing? Maybe  I should  show  them  how. 

Good,  one  of  them  finally  caught  one.  Maybe  we 
should  keep  him  to  eat.  That  would  be  nice.  Another 
one  caught!  Now  we  have  two  to  eat. 

The  sun  is  down  and  the  pond  is  getting  foggy. 
Where  do  fish  sleep? 

They  say  it’s  time  to  go.  I could  stay  forever — well, 
maybe  just  a little  longer.  Guess  I’ll  take  Sam  and 
Mary  home.  Oops,  they  say  I can’t  put  them  in  the 
aquarium.  I have  to  eat  them  or  throw  them  back. 
Hmm.  I’ll  eat  them. 


Cheryl  Riley 


illustration — Rose  Boeql[ 


WtRT 
bookbinding 

Cr antville  Pa 

MAVJUNE  1992